Transporters violating fare list

TIMERGARA, Nov 13: Residents of different villages of Adenzai on Tuesday complained local transporters were still charging high fares despite reduction in CNG price.

Talking to journalists at the Chakdara Press Club, the residents of Ouch, Asbanr, Kotigram and Badwan said local magistrate had fixed Rs0.97 per kilometer for vehicles running on CNG in the area as per regional transport authority’s directives. But, they said new fare list was not being implemented by local transporters. They alleged local administration had been siding with transporters leaving commuters at their mercy. They demanded of the district administration to take notice of the matter.

Meanwhile, a traffic police official said they had been asked not to take any action against transporters till Nov 19.

Meanwhile, VC University of Malakand Dr Jauhar Ali awarded scholarships to ten deserving students of different departments on Tuesday. A total of 180 students had applied out of which 24 were selected.—Correspondent

Solar power system launched

KHAR Nov 13: The political administration on Tuesday launched the first ever solar power system at civil hospital Nawagai in Bajaur Agency to overcome difficulties resulting from power outages in the healthcare facility.

The administration took the initiative to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the emergency, laboratory and the refrigerators to reduce difficulties facing the patients and preserve various vaccines and other medicines.

According to officials, the power crisis has badly affected the working of government-run hospitals in the agency.

Officials said at least 27 staff members of the civil hospital had been imparted training to operate and maintain the solar power system. They said solar power system would also be provided to other hospitals in the far flung areas of Bajaur Agency.—Correspondent

Peace during Muharram

PARACHINAR, Nov 13: A jirga of tribal elders, ulema and political officials held here on Tuesday extended all out support to the government in maintaining peace and religious harmony during Muharram. The jirga was held at the Governor House which was attended by a large number tribal elders, ulema and officials of Kurram political administration.

Addressing the jirga, the political officer Javedullah Mahsud said the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure that all majalis programmes were held peacefully. He hoped that this year too the Muharram programmes will be held with religious zeal and zest.

Tribal elders and religious figures said Muharram events were not specific to any sect or group, adding it was responsibility of all of them to promote brotherhood, unity and harmony during Muharram. They vowed to foil anti-state conspiracies by exhibiting unity. They assured the administration of all out cooperation in maintenance of peace.—Correspondent

Pesco workers to observe sit-in

PESHAWAR, Nov 13: Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has announced province-wide strike on November 20 against the ‘political appointments’ in Peshawar Electric Supply Company. The decision was taken at a meeting of the executive council of the union presided over by its central chairman Gohar Taj on Tuesday.

The speakers, Haji Mohammad Iqbal, Mustajab Mazdor Yar, and Ali Syed said the power company was facing many technical and administrative problems due to political interference. They said thousands of workers of Pesco would observe a sit-in on the premises of the Pesco headquarters at Shami Road at 11am to decide future line of action.“We will never allow appointments on political basis and will save this national institution from destruction,” they vowed.—Bureau Report

Call for releasing students

PESHAWAR, Nov 13: Activists of the Fata Students Federation have expressed anguish over the arrest of a teacher and many students in parts of Khyber Agency and demanded their immediate release.

Speaking at a press conference at press club here on Tuesday, the FSF leader Khan Bahadur Wazir said the political administration was harassing the students on different pretexts. Flanked by other office-bearers - Rohullah Mohmand, Rehan Safi, Sultan Orakzai, Asghar Mohmand and Javaid Iqbal -- Mr Wazir said a teacher Astana Gul and 25 other students, including FSF activist, Maseet Khan, had been taken into custody a few days ago without any reason.

He said if the students were not released immediately they would not appear in their examinations and would start protest demonstrations outside Governor House on daily basis.—Bureau Report

Kundi’s father passes away

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 13: Fazal Karim Kundi, former MNA and father of Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, passed away after protracted illness here on Tuesday. He was 75. His funeral prayer will be held at Kundi Modal Farm at 10am on Wednesday.

Fazal Karim Kundi was presently under treatment at a hospital in Islamabad but brought to his hometown Dera Ismail Khan on Nov 10 when his wife and mother of Faisal Kundi died at the age of 95. Fazal Karim Kundi died near Mianwali (Punjab) while being brought to Islamabad after a three-day stay in Dera. Kundi was elected as MNA on the PPP ticket from NA-18 in the 1990 election by defeating Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of JUI. In 1988 election on the same constituency Kundi was defeated by the Maulana.—Correspondent

Protest against loadshedding

MINGORA, Nov 13: The traders and hoteliers staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against unscheduled and prolonged power loadshedding in Swat valley.

The traders and workers of hotel association blocked the Mingora-Kalam road for over an hour against the unjust loadshedding. They set ten days deadline to Pesco authorities to ensure smooth power supply to the tourist spot or else they would stage a sit-in outside KP assembly. The protesters chanted slogans against the provincial and central governments for failure to overcome energy crisis.

Addressing the protest rally, president of Kalam hotel association Dr Abdul Wadood said tourism industry of Kalam had suffered for three years due to militancy and now its was hit be electricity outages.—Correspondent

Housing scheme opposed

CHARSADDA, Nov 13: The owners of the land of Flying Craft Paper Mills staged a protest demonstration on Tuesday against sale of the mills’ land on throwaway prices to build a housing society there.

The protesters led by ANP MPA Fazal Shakoor Khan also blocked the Charsadda-Islamabad Motorway link road. The protesters broke the main gate of the closed mills. However, the district administration stopped work on the housing scheme and called a meeting today (Wednesday) to resolve the issue.

A meeting was also held at the residence of MPA Fazal Shakoor Khan in this connection where the participants rejected the construction of housing scheme on the lands of the mills. They demanded installation of small industries on the land to benefit the people of the area.—Correspondent