LAKKI MARWAT: Local residents have asked the government to launch work on the sports complex project and provide funds for building rural roads in the Lakki Marwat district.

The demands were made during a khuli kutchery convened by deputy commissioner Zeeshan Abdullah on Saturday.

“The sports complex project approved by the provincial government some five years ago has not been realised,” regretted Inayatullah, a resident.

He said land had been acquired for the project along Manjiwala road but the project was in doldrums due to non-payment of compensation to landowners.

Construction of new roads in rural areas also demanded

“The establishment of sports complex will help promote sports activities in the district,” he said.

“Several urban and rural roads, including Tajazai to Darra Tang and Behramkhel and Tarikhel to Tajori are potholed and cause inconvenience to transporters and general public,” residents Zainullah, Shoaib and Ziaur Rehman said.

They said the construction of farm to market roads should be the top priority of the government.

They also demanded the repair of the damaged portion of road near Sheen Bagh and removal of sand from Lakki city road.

Resident Farman Mansoor demanded trimming of overgrown trees causing troubles in smooth flow of traffic on Masha Mansoor Road.

Resident Sajjad Ali Khan appealed to the deputy commissioner to order restoration of gas connections as SNGPL had banned new connections in 2020.

The participants also expressed concern about excessive power outages in Michenkhel and Saeedkhel localities of Lakki city and rural areas of the district.

They said despite government directives, people were facing the brunt of electricity shutdowns at Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh times.

The forum’s participants said Marwat canal was a matter of life and death for local growers, therefore, the district administration should ensure availability of water in it.

Resident Ali Ahmad demanded of the government to set up a small industrial estate in the district as it would bring development to the backward region.

The deputy commissioner said the issues highlighted by people would be taken up with quarters concerned for early resolution.

OUTLAW ARRESTED: The police claimed to have arrested a proclaimed offender from a passenger bus in Darra Tang area here on Saturday.

An official said a police party intercepted a Lakki-bound passenger bus at a border checkpost in Darra Tang area for routine checking.

He said the bus was going to Bannu from Islamabad.

“During checking, the police asked a suspected passenger to produce his CNIC,” he said.

The official said when the data of the man, identified as Sabir Kamal, a resident of Wanda Zareef, was entered into the criminal record verification system it revealed he was a proclaimed offender and had been wanted by the Serai Gambila police in a double murder case for the last five months.

The official said the suspect along with his brothers had gunned down a man and son near Shahmadu in the limits of Serai Gambila police station on Oct 6, last year.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025