SWABI: Local people on Wednesday demanded a camerawoman at the regional passport office.

Talking to reporters, they said it was against Pakhtun customs that a male cameraman snapped women at the passport office. They added women were quite embarrassed being photographed by the male operator.

“The women are irked by the male cameraman,” said a man, who accompanied his wife at the passport office, adding he observed that some women returned without completing the necessary process as they didn’t want to be photographed by a male.

“We demand that there should be a female camera operator as well,” said Mohammad Yasir Khan of Maneri Bala.

Ahmad Ali of Swabi city feared that the male cameraman might misuse the photographs of women.

The passport office staff said appointing a female camera operator rested with the federal interior ministry.

The people also complained about lack of seating arrangements for women.

They also demanded that Saturday holiday should be abolished to ease rush at the passport office as women had to stand in long queues for hours.

CLASH CLAIMS LIFE: A man was killed and a boy was injured seriously when two rival groups exchanged heavy fire in Kalu Khan village on Wednesday, said police. The incident was the result of an old enmity.

Registering an FIR in Kalu Khan police station, a complainant said his brother, Masood Khan, was shot dead by rivals, Alam Sher and Zarwali Khan.

A 12-year-old boy identified as Mohammad Shahzad Khan, who was passing by the area at the time of the firing, was seriously injured. He was taken to Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Shahmansoor.

The police, who said the killers escaped the area, registered an FIR and began investigations.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2016