CHARSADDA: People staged a protest demonstration at the Khatm-i-Nabuwat Chowk, Shabqadar, here the other day, demanding action against ice drug traffickers and loan sharks.

Hundreds of people participated in the demonstration organised by Pushkala Wati National Jirga. The participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against drug dealers and ‘usurers’.

The protesters said drug pushing was on the rise, and called for collective response of the society to fight the menace.

They demanded of the police and the district administration to curb the menace as ice drug was poisoning the youth.

Separately, a young man was killed and three were injured in a firing attack over a family dispute.

FAMILIES JOIN JUI-F: Thirty-eight families, including the family of Haji Nazir of Khoro Muftiabad area, announced to join Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Sunday.

Former provincial minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah and local JUI-F leader Saad Khan were instrumental in persuading families to join the party.

Speaking at the party joining function, JUI-F provincial general secretary Maulana Attaul Haque Darwish, Arshad Abdullah, district emir Maulana Gohar Shah, and others claimed party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was leading a struggle to rid the country of interest-based economy.

They claimed that the PTI government had bankrupted the province by taking record loans during its tenure.POLICE DARBAR: DPO Sohail Khan has said that strict action would be taken against those elements involved in street crimes and directed the police officers to avoid use of flashlights and smart phones while on duty.

DPO Sohail Khalid while addressing police officers during a Darbar at the DPO office said that the police officers can use a simple mobile phone to stay in touch.

He said it was necessary to effectively sensitise the police stations, outposts and all the police personnel to the current situation of terrorism and targeted killings.

He added that blockades should be set up on the main roads. He urged the personnel to treat the people professionally and keep a close watch on suspicious persons.

He further said that the CCTV cameras installed in the police stations and at checkpoints should be kept fully operational.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2022