KHAR: Two workers were killed and three others suffered injuries when an under construction bridge collapsed in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur Agency here on Sunday, officials said.

They said the incident occurred when a major portion of the bridge suddenly collapsed in Chargoria area. Following the mishap, people of nearby areas reached the site and retrieved the victims from the rubble and took them to the agency headquarters hospital, Khar.

According to the officials, the victims were identified as Ismail Khan and Gul Said, while condition of injured identified as Sherzada, Nawab Khan and Ghazi Khan was stated to be critical. They said Ismail Khan succumbed to his wounds at the hospital while body of Gul Said was retrieved from the rubble by the local people.

An official said investigation had been started to find out the cause of the accident.

REFORMS PACKAGE: Leaders of All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance on Sunday criticised the federal government for not implementing the reforms package in Fata, and threatened to launch a protest movement if the needful was not done.

The alliance leaders made the threat during a meeting chaired by its president Qari Abdul Majeed.

The meeting was attended by leaders and representatives of various political and religious parties.

The alliance leaders criticised the federal government for not taking concrete steps to implement the reforms in the tribal areas despite the package had principally been approved by the federal cabinet in March.

They said the delay in implementation of the long-awaited reforms package had disappointed the people.

They demanded of the prime minister to implement the package without delay so the people could enjoy the basic rights.

It was decided at the meeting that the alliance would launch an agitation campaign if the federal government did not take tangible steps to implement the reforms immediately.

The alliance leaders also expressed concern over blockade of CNIC cards of people of Bajaur Agency. They mentioned that CNICs of about 4,000 people had been blocked by Nadra without any reason, causing multiple problems for them. They demanded immediate unblocking of the CNICs.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2017