The electorates of District Mardan announced full support for the campaign of Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, MNA and Convenor National Democratic Alliance (NDA), for eradication of corruption from the province. The MNA who has been elected on ANP ticket and is at loggerhead with party leadership over alleged corrupt practices in the ruling hierarchy, has formally launched his anti-graft movement by addressing a public meeting at Union Council Gumbat, suburban locality of Mardan.
The venue of the public meeting was decorated with banners and placards in favour of anti-corruption movement and former federal minister Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, former provincial minister Farid Toofan, former PML-Q candidate from PF-25 Amresh Khan, Ikramullah Khan of Darub House and naib nazim Union Council Gumbat, and Zarin Gul addressed the meeting.
Addressing the meeting Khwaja Mohammad Khan vowed to continue 'Jehad' against corruption and corrupt practices in government machinery, saying the movement would not compromise on national security. "I have remained associated with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who accepted gallows but did not compromise," vowed Hoti adding that how he could compromise on the principles.
He criticised the government for deteriorating law & order situation, corruption, price hike and massive power load shedding. He was of the view that the provincial government had miserably failed and minting money in the name of providing relief to the displaced persons from Malakand Division.
He said his family has always served the people of the province. He said that his uncle, Nawabzada Abdul Ghafoor Khan Hoti, has established Risalpur Locomotive Factory and other industrial units providing employment opportunity to thousand of people.
Khwaja Hoti alleged that the rules of the province are even making money in purchasing land for the establishment of universities. Neither Bacha Khan nor Wali Khan was corrupt, but the present leadership of the party in involved in corrupt practices, he alleged.
Farid Toofan, a senior political activist while speaking on the occasion alleged that the rulers of the province had mortgaged it to US for just few millions dollars. He said that the level of corruption could be betterly gauged from that the an special assistant to the chief minister has recently purchased a bungalow at Rs 30.5 million in posh Hayatabad locality.