LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration has initiated talks with the protesting Bittani tribesmen as their sit-in entered the second day here on Friday to demand free gas supply.

The elders have set up a protest camp in Mastikhel area of Lakki Marwat. They said the Oil and Gas Development Corporation had assured the people living within the radius of seven kilometres of provision of free natural gas facility, but to no avail. They also said the authorities did not fulfill the promise of providing free gas cylinders to the residents of other areas of the Bittani subdivision.

The elders also complained of non-payment of surface rent by the company and its failure to install water filtration plants, set up hospitals and build roads.

Marwat-Bittani Tehreek chairman Inamullah Khan and notables from Tajori and other areas also visited the camp and expressed solidarity with the protesting tribesmen.

Taking notice of the protest, deputy commissioner Fahad Wazir tasked additional assistant commissioner Azmat Ali Khan with holding a jirga with protesters and convincing them to end the agitation.

Mr Azmat met the protesting elders and heard their grievances against the company. He assured the elders of bringing their grievances into the notice of the higher authorities of the government.

SPORTS GALA: The Bannu district administration has finalised arrangements to organise a sports gala for special persons from Oct 15, an official said on Friday.

He told Dawn that a meeting chaired by deputy commissioner Abdul Hameed Khan and attended by officials of sports, youth and social welfare departments made the decision about holding the event. He said the persons with disabilities from across the district would take part in various games.

He said the festival would feature wheelchair cricket, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair race and wheelchair badminton. “Other games, including standing cricket, standing race and standing badminton are also part of the festival,” he maintained.

CHEQUES DISTRIBUTED: Lakki deputy commissioner Fahad Wazir distributed cheques of reward money among the position holders of Qirat and Naat competitions on Friday.

The district administration with support of the education department and boy scouts association had organised the competitions last month in connection with Rehmatul-lil-Aalmeen conference on the directives of the provincial government.

The first position holders were awarded with cheques of Rs50,000 each while the second and third position holders received cheques of Rs35,000 and Rs25,000, respectively.

POETRY SESSION: A poetry session was held at the Iqbal Shaheed Police Lines in Bannu city on Friday.

Regional police officer Imran Shahid, district police officer Ziauddin Ahmed and a good number of cops participated. Prominent poets of Urdu and Pashto languages and literati from across Bannu attended the poetry session and recited their verses.

The poets highlighted the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs of the police department and paid tributes to the ghazis for exhibiting gallantry in the fight against militants.

They showcased the love of people for the police force and their desire for peace and prosperity.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024