LANDI KOTAL, Sept 5: Armed tribesmen in Landi Kotal sub-division of Khyber Agency have again taken positions on hilltops and disrupted electricity supply to the entire Landi Kotal Tehsil after Water and Power Development Authority’s (Wapda’s) refusal to extend time limit of its meter installation drive in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Angry Zakhakhel inhabitants threatened to blow up power towers and bridges on Peshawar-Landi Kotal highway if electricity was not restored to their homes in the next 24 hours. Power supply to Zakhakhel and Ali Masjid was disconnected by Wapda on Aug 26 last when residents of these areas refused to install meters at their homes.

The protesting tribesmen alleged that entire responsibility of worsening of the situation would rest with the government as it had not been paying heed to their genuine demands.

A representative tribal Jirga, headed by Landi Kotal spiritual leader Allama Abdul Malik Qadri, met Peshawar Electricity Supply Corporation (Pesco) Chairman Brig Khalid on Tuesday and insisted upon him to delay Wapda’s meter plan till the holding of October general elections.

But their demand was turned down by the Pesco chairman.

Wapda, however, agreed that the duration of power supply to Zakhakhel and Ali Masjid would be doubled so as to overcome the water shortage and help the tubewells run for a longer time.

Talking to Dawn, an official of the Khyber Agency political administration warned that stern action would be taken against the wrongdoers, adding that disruption of power supply by Zakhakhels was an act of sabotage and the administration would not allow anybody to take law into their hands. “They have chosen the path of confrontation,” he said, and stressed for a negotiated settlement of the issue.

The administration has deployed heavy contingents of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Khasadar force on the Peshawar-Landi Kotal road. The FC has also been entrenched on hilltops overlooking Zakhakhel area. Both public and private vehicles were thoroughly checked by the FC personnel at Parang Sum and Bhagyiarhi checkposts. However, the road remained open on Thursday.

But Zakhakhel tribal chief Malik Darya Khan refused to meet the administration and instead urged his armed supporters to throw an iron chain over the 132kv power supply line and sent them to the hilltops. When approached by Dawn, he expressed his ignorance about the whole state of affairs and insisted that he did not meet or talk to anybody.

Since disconnection of electricity to Zakhakhel area, water supply to Landi Kotal Tehsil has also been badly effected. The administration arranged generators to keep the tubewells running yet the people continue to face water shortage.

Due to the tension in the area, the returning of Afghan refugees has also been affected. Khyber Agency authorities on Thursday did not allow some 500 families to proceed beyond Jamrud as they could not ensure road safety.