BAJAUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) local leaders on Thursday described the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf`s (PTI) 13-year rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the darkest and most corrupt period in the province`s history, calling for strict accountability of former PTI ministers and lawmakers.

The callwas made at a press conference at the Bajaur Press Club in Khar, where local chapter president Haji Sher Bahadur, along with senior party leaders, welcomed the imposition of emergency and governor`s rule.

PPP district general secretary Shakeel Khan Utmankhel, Shahabuddin, Mian Samiullah Jan, Haider Ali Shah and Abdullah Advocate were among those who addressed the press conference.

They welcomed the measures aimed at improving law and order and strengthening governance, describing them as essential to preventing the province and its people from facing further crises.

`The PPP is a democratic party and believes that democracy is the best form of governance. However, the problems arising from the PTI government`s misguided and unwise policies, particularly its prolonged confrontation with the federal government over efforts to curb terrorism, made such extraordinary measures necessary to protect the province and its people from further destruction,` they said.

They stated that besides party workers across the province, the people in general, and Bajaur in particular, were supporting the governor and his team of advisory council for restoration of peace, curbing corruption and improving governance across the province.

They asked the governor and his team to launch effective action against corruption and to hold accountable all former PTI provincial ministers, lawmakers and others involved in corrupt practices.

They alleged that local PTI lawmakers had encouraged corrupt practices in the district and accumulated substantial assets through the alleged embezzlement of public funds allocated for development projects.

They also called for transparent and independent investigations into alleged meritless recruitments and appointments made by PTI local lawmakers, their close family members and secretaries, claiming most recruitments in local public departments during the PTI era were made in violation of merit.

They also demanded resumption of work on all halted development projects in Bajaur and across the province.