BAJAUR: A two-day Bajaur Festival featuring sports and cultural events was launched here on Sunday to encourage the youth to participate in healthy activities and promote tourism potential of the district.

The festival was being organised jointly by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, department of tourism, culture, sports and youth affairs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Frontier Corps (North), district administration and Bajaur Scouts at the Bajaur Sports Complex, Khar.

A large number of people from various areas of the district attended the colourful opening ceremony of the festival where a group of local singers and artists also performed at a musical concert.

Several traditional games such as “Sakhi” and “Kabaddi” were also played on the first day besides tug of war and martial arts competitions.

Different departments have installed stalls of traditional foods and handicrafts in the festival. Kids play area, jumping pad and cartoon characters were also arranged while a group of students presented tableaus.

District sports and culture officer Taj Mohammad Wazir told mediapersons that the festival was meant to show to the world that the residents of Bajaur were peace-loving people. He said cycle race and motorbike and jeep rallies were also part of the festival.

ATTACK PROTESTED: Residents of various areas of Khar tehsil here on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against alleged hand grenade attack on the house of a local doctor by unknown miscreants and blocked the main Jar-Munda road for several hours.

The protest held in Mula Kallay area was attended by residents of Jar, Mula Kallay, Marosa and Gandoo.

The protesters said that unknown miscreants hurled a hand grenade on the house of Dr Mohamnad Rahman in Mula Kallay on Saturday night. No casualty was reported in the incident.

They said it was the second such attack on the house of Dr Rahman during the past few weeks. They called the incident failure of the local police to provide protection to the residents.

Addressing the protesters, ANP district president Gul Afzal Khan and others asked the district police chief to investigate the case and arrest those behind the attack.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2022