HARIPUR:
The Awami National Party’s decision to create a new district, Tanawal in Hazara division, has once again drawn the ire of political activists.
Although the final announcement has yet to come, sources suggest that the ruling party is all set to create a seventh district in Hazara division.
While the decision has been welcomed by many, several activists, particularly those belonging to the Tehrik-i-Suba Hazara, claim it is just another strategy to suppress the ever-intensifying movement for Hazara province. However, the ANP has rejected the impression.
Last year, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti had announced the creation of Abaseen division within Hazara, which is itself a division. The purpose behind creating another division, according to the CM, was to develop the neglected Kohistan, Battagram and Torghar districts.
However, soon after the announcement, a dispute over the divisional headquarters erupted between the three districts, diverting their attention away from the Hazara province.
“People from these areas have almost forgotten the demand for a separate province as they are busy fighting to get their respective districts recognised as divisional headquarters,” said Jahanzeb Khan, a political activist of JUI-F in Battagram.
Keeping in mind the current situation, certain political analysts have eyed on Tanawal District as yet another strategy by the ANP to suppress the Hazara movement.
“They [ANP] are not sincere with the people of Hazara and their ultimate aim is to sabotage the movement by pitting people against each other,” said Hazara Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Qazi Muhammad Azhar. However, he said his party would support the new district if the majority of local people were in favour.
Likewise, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa PML-N President Pir Sabir Shah, who led the rallies opposing the creation of Tanawal district, said the district was in no way feasible and “it would expose the people to several difficulties”.
On the other hand, Nawabzada Salahuddin Saeed, the present chief of Tanawalis, was of the view that the district would help unite the Tanoli tribe.
“Almost 90 per cent of the people are in favour of the district while the remaining 10 per cent have been misguided by politicians who fear they will lose their vote bank.”
The new district would comprise 13 union councils of Mansehra and 14 of Abbottabad and Haripur. “It would have earn enough revenue in royalties from minerals, tourism and Tarbela Dam to run its development schemes,” he told The Express Tribune.
He also dispelled the notion that the new district was being created at the cost of Hazara province.
Similarly, MPA Habibur Rehman Tanoli also supported the idea of a new district. “Even though certain people believe it would lack infrastructure due to its hilly terrain, it is hoped that the ANP government would resolve all these issues before making a formal announcement,” he remarked.
While talking to The Express Tribune, ANP provincial council member Fiaz Hussain rejected the impression that his party was conspiring against the people of Hazara in any way.
He added that development in Hazara division under the ANP was far greater than any other ruling party. “We are not against Hazara province but we want the demand to be raised in a constitutional way.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2012.
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