February 12, 2003	Wednesday	Zul Hijjah 10, 1423

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BAJAUR, Feb 11: Wapda has restored electricity supply to the Afghan refugees’ camps in the Bajaur Agency on Monday after the refugees agreed to clear their dues and pay the monthly bills regularly.

The power supply to about one dozen refugee camps in the agency remained cut off for a month.

The Wapda officials started work on the restoration of electricity supply after the agreement was signed between the political administration and the Afghan elders, sources said.

An official told Dawn on Monday that billions of rupees’ dues were outstanding against the refugees for the last several years.

He said the electricity supply was restored after the refugees agreed to pay the bills and clear the dues. All the refugees’ camps remained without power for more than one month, he added.

The official warned the refugees that if they did not clear the dues and pay the monthly charges regularly, the administration would again suspend the power supply after Eid.

According to the sources, the thousands of refugees living in the camps faced acute problems, particularly the shortage of drinking water during the suspension of the power supply.

WARNING ISSUED: The political administration has warned the tribal population and the Afghan refugees against celebrating the Eidul Azha in the agency on Tuesday.

All the tribal population and the Afghans residing in the agency should celebrate the Eid in unison with the rest of the country on Wednesday.

The Afghans mostly celebrate the Islamic festivals in accordance with the lunar calendar observed in Saudi Arabia.

AFGHANS DETAINED: The local administration has arrested 21 Afghan refugees who had announced that they would celebrate the Eidul Azha on Tuesday, sources said.

The sources said that the political authorities held a meeting with the tribal ulema and elite of the agency on Monday, in which it was decided that the Eid would be observed on Wednesday.

Following the announcement made by the Afghan refugees, the locals residing in the far-flung mountainous parts of the agency have also announced that they would observe the Eid with the Afghans.