MANSEHRA: A grand jirga of elders belonging to upper and lower Kohistan have decided to field the divisional president of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) in Hazara, Zargul Khan, in by-election on constituency PK-62. Maulana Asmatullah of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) has tendered his resign as MPA from the constituency. “MPA Maulana Asmatullah has submitted his resignation as member provincial assembly. I am going to contest the by-election on the constituency as per decree issued by the grand jirga,” Zargul Khan told reporters. A grand jirga of 500 notables of upper and lower Kohistan, led by local MPAs including Abdul Sattar Khan of PML-N, Maulana Asmatullah of JUI-F and Maulana Abdul Haq of PTI, decided that Maulana Asmatullah resigned as MPA and Zargul Khan would be elected on the vacated seat. The jirga, held in Peshawar the other day, was attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Zargul Khan. The jirga lauded the performance of PTI-led provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Thanks to the jirga members who admired our government on banning usury and incorporating Islamic lessons in curricula in the province and decided to vacate a provincial assembly seat as a goodwill gesture for us,” said Zargul Khan. He added that the jirga also decided that PTI chief Imran Khan would be fielded on NA-23 in the upcoming general elections and entire Kohistan would support him. “Also, contenders of PTI on all three provincial assembly constituencies, PK-61, PK-62 and PK-63 of upper and Lower Kohistan, would be supported in coming general elections,” he added. He said that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak lauded role of grand jirga for bringing people of upper and lower Kohistan on a single platform. “If you have such a great regard for us and our party, I announce that all issues about bifurcation of Kohistan would be settled in accordance with their wishes,” he quoted Khattak as saying at the jirga. He said the PTI-led government was even ready to declare Palas another district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to settle the issue created following bifurcation of Kohistan among people of different tehsils.