TIMERGARA, Oct 6: A local family held a protest demonstration outside Timergara Press Club here the other day against the police for not taking action against former provincial minister Nawabzada Mahmood Zeb for subjecting them to torture over a piece of land.

The members of Khalilullah’s family, including elders and children, chanted slogans against the former minister. They also carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the police and the former minister.

Talking to journalists, Khalilullah and his son Hussainullah alleged that workers of the former minister and local police subjected both of them to torture when they were working on a piece of land. “They tore our clothes, tortured us physically and took away our farming tools,” said Mr Khalilullah.

The father and son said the land had been purchased by their forefathers and had been in their possession for decades.

They alleged that the Timergara police were also backing the former minister.

The family demanded of the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court to direct the Timergara police to properly investigate the case.

THANA CULTURE: Lower Dir Superintendent of Police Mian Jamshid Inamullah has directed ending ‘thana’ culture and improving policing to provide protection to people.

Addressing a police ‘darbar’ at the police lines here the other day, the SP said the police department should take measures to also end the culture of bribery and ‘sefarish’.

DSPs of all the circles and SHOs were in attendance.

Mr Inamullah said using influence ‘sifarish’ in promotions and postings had been strictly banned by the provincial government.

The SP said that protection of lives, properties and dignity of people was the sole responsibility of police.