KOHAT: Kohat city mayor Qari Sher Zaman has demanded the scrapping of all the tenders floated for carrying out development projects outside the oil and gas production areas under the corporate social responsibility funds.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday accompanied by chairmen of Gumbat and Lachi tehsils, he said legally these funds were meant for production areas. He said they had got stay order from the Peshawar High Court and asked the former PML-N state commerce minister Abbas Afridi to stop ‘illegal’ installation of transformers for his election campaign.

He warned that if the tenders were not scrapped they would stage protests and would also approach the Supreme Court for justice.

INJURED: A medicine company’s vehicle coming from Kurram tribal district came under attack in Muhammadzai area here the other day, injuring an employee, the police said.

The salesman of the company, Mohsin, and the driver, Niaz told the cantonment police that their colleague, Mohammad Yousuf was critically injured in the attack. The injured was moved to a hospital in Peshawar.

Meanwhile, the business community resented the alarming increase in the incidents of mobile phone and motorcycle snatching, claiming mostly ice drug addicts were involved in such cases.

They demanded transfer of former district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur back to Kohat to curb crime.

Also, a man was injured when rival groups traded fire on Hangu Road. The injured was identified as Shafiullah, the police said. The police said an FIR of the case had been registered.

Meanwhile, thieves struck a mosque in Jarwada area taking away taps, and also looted a shop in the main bazaar the other day.

CHEHLUM: A gathering of Shia and Sunni elders held here on Tuesday agreed to observe the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) in a peaceful manner and effectively convey the message behind the Karbala incident.

The gathering was held at the hujra of Seth Gohar Saifullah Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, Seth Gohar emphasised that people, especially youth, should not indulge in anti-state activities, and if they had any reservations they should approach their elders to find an amicable solution.

The participants stressed unity and brotherhood and vowed to extend full cooperation to the law enforcement agencies to ensure peace in the region.

Kohat city mayor Qari Sher Zaman, former chief justice of Peshawar High Court Syed Ibne Ali, caretaker of Said Habib Imambargah Syed Moharram Ali Shah and others were in attendance.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023