BAJAUR: A cricket tournament began in Bajaur district here the other day to involve youth in healthy and positive activities.

Deputy commissioner Shahid Ali Khan inaugurated the Bajaur Cricket League (BCL) during a colourful ceremony held at Bajaur Sports Complex in Khar.

BCL is arranged jointly by the district administration and the sports department’s local office.

Cricket lovers, elders, political and social activists showed up in numbers at the inaugural ceremony.

District sports officer Taj Mohammad Wazir, district police officer Waqas Rafique, PTI MPA Dr Hamidur Rahman and the deputy commissioner addressed the ceremony, highlighting the significance of the event.

They said the BCL was amid at promoting positive activities among the youth.

“The district administration provided modern facilities in Bajaur Sports Complex,” DC Shahid Ali said.

MPA Hamidur Rahman said the provincial government was planning to resume its sports promotional project across the merged districts. He said the programmes was launched during the last tenure of PTI government, but was stopped during the caretaker regime.

Earlier, district sports officer Taj Wazir informed the participants that 36 teams from across the district were taking part in the tournament, which would continue for a month.

DISPUTE RESOLVED: The district administration resolved a dispute between rival groups over the possession of a mountain in Utmankhel tehsil here the other day.

According to a statement, the dispute between Stanadar and Matako tribes lasted for couple of months with members from both the sides having set up posts on the mountain to target their places and homes.

However, after receiving complaints from local residents about the tense situation, a joint team of district administration and police officials was sent to the area to reduce the tensions immediately.

The statement said the team led by the Utmankhel tehsildar approached the local elders to convince the warring groups to end hostilities. It said the team managed to make the two parties to agree to a temporary ceasefire.

The statement said according to the agreement, members of both the tribes wouldn’t visit the said mountain until the dispute was resolved formally.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2024