KOHAT: A grand operation to remove encroachments from the city’s bazaars is on the cards in view of the inconvenience being caused to the pedestrians and the failure of tehsil municipal administration to address the old problem.

The district police officer made a decision in this regard after visiting the main bazaar and Tirah, Miankhel, Zargran and Bannu bazaars and found stalls on the extended floors of the shops and hundreds of handcarts standing in front of the markets.

In a statement, he said that the road was a government property and meant for easy movement of the vehicles and people therefore nobody would be allowed to occupy it illegally. He warned the shopkeepers and presidents of various unions of the bazaars to remove the stalls, hanging items on bamboo sticks extended towards the road and handcarts.

DPO visits city markets, seeks traders’ support

He said that strict action would be taken against the encroachers in case the illegal practice was not stopped voluntarily.

Additional assistant commissioner Murad Hoti told this correspondent that the administration had allocated a vast ground near the bus stand of Buraka for handcarts, but nobody was ready to cooperate and shift there.

DOCTOR’S TRANSFER: Tug of war has started between the local hospital administration and provincial health department over the transfer of heart specialist Nauman Khan from Kohat to Lakki Marwat.

The civil society has also expressed concern over the transfer and demanded of the department to withdraw the decision in the best interest of the people of Kohat division. It has been learnt that the secretary health has ordered his transfer on the directives of an influential person in the cabinet who belonged to Lakki Marwrat.

An official speaking on the condition of anonymity told this correspondent on Wednesday by phone that the medical superintendent of KDA Teaching Hospital Dr Farooq Shah had taken a position in favour of the doctor who had threatened that in case his transfer to Lakki Marwat was not stopped he would resign.

MOCK EXERCISE: The district police conducted an anti-terrorism mock exercise in the district courts as a part of preparedness to deal with any untoward situation.

The operational and elite forces took part in the exercise, which was led by DSP Irfan Khan of elite force and cantonment SHO Qismat Khan.

District police officer Wahid Mehmood said on the occasion that they should inculcate the feelings of trust among the people. He also distributed prizes among 20 traffic wardens and asked them to discourage underage driving.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2019