KOHAT: The railways retrieved illegally occupied property worth millions of rupees along the track in Muhammadzai on Hangu Road on Monday.

Railways magistrate Ms Quratul Ain Wazir said she had served a 30-day notice on the owners of shops and warehouse to vacate the encroached upon property, but they did not do so. She said an operation was launched to raze all the shops and warehouses.

She said the people had occupied the precious property after the rail service between Rawalpindi and Kohat was shifted to Thall.

She said the total value of the vacated property was Rs19.6 million.

Meanwhile, assistant commissioner, Kohat, along with a team also demolished illegal structures built near the Hangu railway crossing on the TMA land.

FACILITIES FOR MARTYRS CHILDREN: District police officer Mansoor Aman has directed to ensure pick and drop of the school going children of the police martyrs in official vehicles.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the policemen should first salute the martyrs’ children at their doorstep and also ask the schools’ principals and staff to take special care of them.

He said the police martyrs had rendered unmatched sacrifices for the country, adding special functions should be held for paying tributes to the martyrs and visits to their graves should be conducted for offering Fateha.

PTI FACES RIFTS: Rifts have surfaced in the local chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf over the ‘selection’ of newcomers from three existing strong groups in the district cabinet.

The disintegration surfaced when some cabinet members resigned, but remained tightlipped for the sake of party’s honour.

Saqib Ibrar, a senior leader, while addressing a press conference the other day, criticised the leadership for ignoring the old workers in the district cabinet. He said presently three big groups were being patronised by local MNA and the MPA. He said he was also resigning from the party due to differences over appointment of the blue-eyed people to the cabinet. He said no worker could speak because the groups, which had sway over the party, had strong links in the province and the centre.

MPA Ziaullah Bangash, in a rebuttal, said there were no divisions in the party at any level. He said the cabinet had been constituted after consultations with the party leaders and workers at the district, division and provincial levels.

He also brushed aside the impression that the PTI preferred rich people as office-bearers and ignored old workers.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2020