LOWER DIR: The 15th anniversary of the Balambat Police Lines blast was observed here on Wednesday.

A suicide bomber blew himself up near the police lines mosque on December 18, 2009, after the Friday prayers, killing 15 worshippers and injuring 27 others.

Shakil Shaheed Development Organisation (SSDO), a charity working for uplift of martyrs’ children in Dir, arranged a function in Balambat. The function was attended by police officers, relatives of the martyrs and social and political activists.

The participants laid floral wreaths on the Yadgar-i-Shuhada and offered Fateha for the departed souls.

Speakers, including SP investigation Rashid Ahmad, SSDO chief Peer Imtiaz Ahmad, former provincial minister Muzafar Said, JUI-F district chief Sirajuddin, social activists Akbar Khan, Ibrash Pasha and others paid tributes to martyrs and vowed to continue supporting their families.

ORIENTATION SESSION: The University of Malakand (UoM) on Wednesday organised an orientation session with the five students, who recently visited Surgulo Sar border point.

UoM vice-chancellor Prof Rashid Ahmad, Commander Dir Scouts Brig Sanaullah, faculty members and students attended the session.

Anees ur Rahman from psychology department, Umar Shah from physics, Asim Nisar from computer science, Aman Shahzad from journalism and Azeem Khan from information technology department along with the varsity’s public relations officer Mairajul Hamid Nasri visited the Pak-Afghan border upon the invitation of Commander Eleventh Corps Gen Omer Ahmad Bukhari.

The students shared their observations regarding the life of a soldier serving on the border, difficulties they faced and complications related to their routine life. The students were of the opinion that common man couldn’t live for even a single day like the soldiers of Pak Army and FC North for safeguarding the country’s borders leaving their families behind.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024