LANDIKOTAL
Rejecting the recent allegations made by elders of the Merikhel tribe, Maulana Taj Ali Shah Afridi on Monday said that their opponents had leveled baseless allegations on him and provincial minister Adnan Qadri as the tubewell installed with consent of all stakeholders in their village. Flanked by Javed Afridi, Haji Masam, Kitab Shah, Azmat Sher, and Imtihan Shah, Maulana Taj Ali Shah said that the accusations related to the alleged relocation of a water supply scheme was completely unfounded and aimed at damaging his reputation.
He firmly stated that he has never claimed to represent the Merikhel tribe nor linked his identity with them. “I am unaware of any so-called letter his opponent showed to media yesterday and I have never claimed to represent any tribe,” he said.
Maulana Taj Ali Shah explained that due to a severe shortage of clean drinking water in the area, he approached Allama Noorul Haq Qadri with a request. The scheme was later approved under the leadership of provincial minister Adnan Qadri.
Taj Ali Shah said the tubewell project was initiated after fulfilling all legal requirements, conducting a feasibility survey and securing the consent of local residents.
Taj Ali Shah added that the land where the tubewell is being installed was officially donated by him for the purpose of providing uninterrupted water supply to the area.
Maulana Taj Ali Shah alleged that the some opponents who now started defaming him had earlier congratulated him when the project was approved.
“Their current criticism is driven by political or personal motives,” he claimed. “I swear that my intentions behind this project are sincere and every step has been taken solely for the welfare of the local community,” he said.
He concluded by saying that his opponents have no evidence to support the accusations made against him.
Mulana Taj Ali Shah said some of the black sheeps have been politically motivated to raise baseless allegations to defame him and provincial minister Adnan Qadri and former minister Noorul Haq Qadri.
