MARDAN: Mayor Mardan Himayatullah Mayar questioned what could tempt loyal PTI members to abandon the party, noting they endured jail terms and fought elections under extreme conditions. Speaking on the Pakhtun Digital Podcast, he contrasted this with PTI’s approach to governance.
Mayar recalled the 2008 Swat peace agreement under ANP rule, stating military action only occurred when militants sought “a state within a state,” ultimately restoring peace across Malakand and southern KP while securing provincial rights.
The mayor accused provincial governments of systematically weakening local bodies: “There’s always been a power struggle. Provincial governments unfairly stripped local institutions of their powers.” He claimed PTI selectively invokes the constitution “only for its own benefit, not others.”
While affirming every citizen’s constitutional right to peaceful protest, Mayar referenced PTI’s “previous protest results” being publicly known. He urged PTI to pursue dialogue with other parties to resolve issues.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s reserved seats ruling, Mayar acknowledged a “technical problem” due to Sunni Ittehad Council’s failure to submit candidate lists, despite PTI’s restored status. He reiterated his commitment to constitutional supremacy and rule
of law.
