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Bungling in the distribution of BISP cards alleged

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The media coordinator of People’s Youth, Malakand Division Iqbal Hayat has alleged mass scale bungling in the distribution of Benazir income support programme (BISP) cards in Chitral district and has demanded of President Zardari to annul the allocation of the cards and initiate inquiry into the scam. In a press statement issued here on Thursday, he said that the grave anomaly in the process of allocation of the cards has highly disappointed the poor people of Chitral who have always voted the party. He said that the basic aim of BISP was to lend support to the poor and the indigent women of the society in accordance with the vision of the slain leader of the party but in Chitral it was made a failure. He alleged that in Chitral, the BISP cards were doled out among the influential persons on personal and political grounds which has earned a bad name for the party in the district. He warned the party leadership that the party will suffer a severe set-back in the forthcoming election if the wrong is not ratified and the responsible elements are not brought to book.
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Buzkashi held in the Kalash valley

By Zahiruddin

CHITRAL: The residents of the Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur were enthralled by the traditional game of buz kashi of the area which continued for more than an hour. The Kalash people said that this was the first-ever gathering of the community after the tough winter season which continued for four months sending the residents into a virtual hibernation. The snow has just melted down in the valleys and spring season is entering the valley. The local residents said that the game of buz kashi reflects the physical toughness of the dwellers in the valley whose physique is toughened by the hard geographical features of the valleys. About the game they said that the tow teams contest for the carcass of a goat (called buz in local dialect) and the players fight each other to snatch it and the team is declared triumphant who crosses the specified lines with it. They said that the Thursday’s match was so hotly contested that the carcass was divided into pieces and no team was victorious. Apart from the Kalash people, the people from outside the valley had also thronged the valley to watch the game which Chitral DPO Mohammad Salim Marwat was chief guest on the occasion. A local NGO Ayun and Kalash valleys development project (AVDP) had sponsored the event, the people said. Addressing on the occasion, he appreciated the valour of the locals and said that they were preserving their unique culture facing the numerous troubles. He said that the game of buz kashi showed that Kalash were second to none in their physical strength.