LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami workers demonstrated here on Friday against the arrest of Palestinian worshippers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli forces.

The protest call was given by JI chief Sirajul Haq.

Jamaat district chief Izazul Mulk Afkari, provincial chief of Jamiat Talaba Arabia Maulana Attaullah and others led the demonstration.

The protesters, while carrying banners and placards, also chanted slogans against the Israeli forces and the US.

The speakers condemned the attack on the innocent Palestinians and termed it a brutal and inhumane act. They declared ‘jihad’ was the only solution against such barbaric acts. The speakers also criticised the OIC for doing nothing to stop atrocities against Palestinians and Kashmiris.

The speakers said about 50,000 innocent Palestinians had been martyred so far and more than 700,000 had left their homes.

ANTI-POLIO DRIVE: A meeting held in Balambat and chaired by deputy commissioner Iftikhar Ahmad was informed on Friday that 26,750 children would be vaccinated against the crippling polio disease during a special drive to be launched in five union councils of Lower Dir from April 14 to 18.

The meeting was briefed on the preparations made for the campaign. The participants were informed that 104 teams had been formed to vaccinate the targeted children in Miskini, Darangal, Toor Camp, Mian Kalay, Timergara and Chakdara union councils.

The DC directed the district administrator Afghan refugees to hold a meeting with the Afghan elders a day before the drive to ensure 100 per cent vaccination of children in their camp.

WARNING: Additional assistant commissioner, revenue Tariq Khan has said all bazaars in the Timergara city would be closed at 10pm to save energy.

Talking to journalists during a visit to the markets, he said 241 points had been set up for distribution of free flour in the district. He said 85 per cent of the deserving families had been covered so far.

He said the district had enough stock of free flour that would be distributed among the people during the fasting month. He said rates of food items were being checked daily to ensure their strict implementation.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023