TIMERGARA, Sept 8: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Youth Wing, Malakand division president Akhunzada Azhar Taqveem on Saturday demanded early withdrawal of cases by Khall police against party workers over a demonstration against the frequent power cuts.He also called for the transfer of the in charge of local police station for misbehaving with locals.

Mr Taqveem told a news conference at Timergara Press Club that Khall police had booked PML-N workers though they peacefully agitated against the electric supply company over prolonged loadshedding.

He said protesters were falsely charged with damaging public property and blocking GT Road.

The PML-N leader said taking out peaceful rallies was the democratic right of the people and no one would be allowed to block it.

He asked the Malakand police bosses to order an inquiry into the matter, saying it will reveal the truth.

Mr Taqveem said if cases against his party workers weren’t withdrawn, a rally from Khall to Timergara would be taken out.

Also in the day, the Malakand Development Programme and education department arranged a function here to mark World Literacy Day.

District coordination officer of Lower Dir Mahmood Aslam Wazir chaired the function, where teachers, students and social activists showed up in large numbers.

The DCO told participants that literacy rate among men and women in the district was 73 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. He said the markedly low female literacy rate was a big letdown.

“No nation can progress without education. It is the best way to survive in current times and therefore, people should educate their children,” he said.

Mr Wazir said Islam urged its followers to get education but unfortunately, most of them had forgotten the ‘golden lesson’.

He said female education was imperative for progress as an educated woman meant an educated family. “Female education is very important and we should focus on its promotion,” he said.

He and MDP district coordinator Mubashir Khan distributed prizes among high-achievers.

Meanwhile, the education department on Saturday completed the exercise of establishing new parents-teacher councils in more than 1,100 government primary schools for boys and girls in Lower Dir.

Officials said joint meetings of teachers and parents for the purpose were held in all primary schools of the district.