SWABI: Residents of flood-hit areas here on Sunday castigated the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers for not visiting them when their houses and fields were submerged by rainwater.

During a visit to the flood-hit localities, this correspondent noted that the people were finding it difficult to cope with the calamity on their own while their belongings had been damaged in the flash flood.

“The drainage system has completely collapsed, but the three tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs) are nowhere to help the residents,” claimed Nasir Khan, a resident of the Swabi urban area, while pointing to the standing water in his locality.

The residents said they had attached great expectations to the PTI which captured all the two seats of National Assembly and five seats of KP Assembly from Swabi district in 2018 general elections, but its claims proved to be hollow.

Complain they have been left alone in their time of need

Ishtiaq Khan of Maneri Bala said the PTI leaders held a workers convention on Saturday where loud music was played, but they did not bother to visit the flood-affected regions to express sympathies with the marooned people.

People of Tand Koi, Marghuz, Sheikh Dheri, Kunda, Kakabat, Zarobi, Kaddi, Baja, Bamkhel, Yar Hussain, Adina, Tordher and other affected regions said the elected people had ignored them in their time of need.

ANP leader Ayaz Shoaib and PML-N’s Babar Saleem said it was the responsibility of the elected representatives to provide financial and other assistance to the affected people.

COUSINS SHOT DEAD: Two cousins were killed in Topi tehsil allegedly after altercation over a boy’s friendship here on Sunday.

Giving details, DSP Iftikhar Ali Khan said the incident took place in Sandhu Banda, Kalabat. He said the accused and the victims were sitting in a hujra when an argument over their respective friendship with a 16-year-old boy Monis Khan started.

He said the rivalry led to opening of fire and as a result Adnan Kamal and his cousin Abubakr were shot dead by the other side. An FIR has been registered against Qasim Khan, Haroon Khan and Monis Khan.

DSP Iftikhar said they had arrested Monis while the other two accused would soon be rounded up.

In another incident, a woman was killed allegedly by her husband in Boka village on Sunday.

A woman told Swabi city police said that her daughter Razia was shot dead by her husband inside their house. The police have registered an FIR.

Also in the day, a schoolteacher Zahir Shah, 47, was allegedly killed over monetary issue by Khalid Khan and Mohammad Zada in Sheikh Jana village, police said.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2022