February 21, 2003	Friday	Zul Hijjah 19, 1423

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HANGU, Feb 20: The political administration of Orakzai Agency has launched a crackdown against the Mashti tribe and arrested several people for resisting the anti-poppy drive and firing at the militia personnel in the Shahu area.

Official sources said that the administration had set up more checkpoints in the area and arrested many people, besides seizing their vehicles.

The administration had sent more troops to the area to control the situation, as armed tribesmen occupied the hilltops threatening to resist the operation against poppy cultivation.

#SALARIES STOPPED:# The Orakzai Agency administration had withheld the salaries of class four employees of the Rabiakhel tribe of Tappa Babikhel for the last four months for non-payment of Rs750,000 fine, imposed for resisting the electricity meter installation drive.

The employees had appealed to the government to release their salaries and take action against the agency administration.

#PROTEST RALLY:# Power subscribers staged a protest demonstration in the Katcha Pakka and Kahi localities of Hangu district against low voltage and frequent power breakdowns in the area on Wednesday.

They also said the Wapda officials had failed to provide a new transformer for the Kahi union council for which they claimed the government had allocated Rs900,000.