MANSEHRA: The National Highway Authority on Friday diverted the course of a stream in Manoor valley here to prevent more damage to the flooded-hit Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

The stream was flooded on August 27 sweeping away shops and standing crops as well as bridges and vehicles on the MNJ Road in Mahandri area.

NHA director Mohammad Javed Saifullah told reporters that the stream’s course was diverted to prevent possible damage to MNJ Road in case of future flash floods.

He said flood embankments were being built or repaired in Manoor valley and Mahandri area.

The official said though the Kunhar River’s Bailey bridge destroyed by the deluge hadn’t been rebuilt, the NHA had provided the residents and others with a safe route to travel in Kaghan valley. The bridge linked Battle area near Kaghan with the MNJ Road.

Mr Saifullah said the NHA would also reconstruct roads and bridges washed away by floods in Kaghan valley.

ROAD BLOCKED: The residents of Muftiabad and adjoining areas blocked the main Kashmir Road here on Friday against water shortage.

Shouting slogans against the tehsil municipal administration, they complained water supply had been suspended for four days to their misery. They insisted they met the relevant officials for the restoration of water supply, but to no avail.

Also, the people of Chitta Batta area blocked the Kashmir Roadagainst power outages.

The protesters dispersed after the police officials showed up and promised intervention for the early resolution of the issue.

GIRLS’ EDUCATION: The United Nations Children’s Fund, the Japanese Agency for International Cooperation and Allama Iqbal Open University on Friday agreed to work together for the cause of girls’ education in Torghar district.

“The international agencies will appoint 20 women teachers to schools and hold matriculation certificate courses for 500 girls, who quit education after passing middle standard exam,” deputy commissioner Anwar Zeb Khan told reporters.

He said he met the representatives of the Unicef, Jica and AIOU and discussed ways to promote the girls’ education in the district.

CASE WITHDRAWAL: Senior lawyer Munir Hussain Lughmani, who was arrested in the Dua Zohra kidnapping case, on Friday announced withdrawal of his application moved against police officers under Section 22-A of CrPC.

“The police officers, who were involved in my arrest, approached lawyer leaders for intervention in settling the matter out of court, so I accepted their request and pardoned them,” Mr Lughmani told reporters here.

The development came in a meeting attended by district and sessions judge Ziaur Rehman, deputy commissioner Adnan Khan and presidents of the provincial and district bar councils.

The Mansehra police had arrested Mr Lughmani on June 2 this year on the charge of sheltering Karachi resident Dua Zohra and her husband, Zaheer, who allegedly kidnapped the girl before marrying her.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2022