August 19, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 20, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Aug 18: Power to the North Waziristan tribal area was restored on Monday following hours of breakdown amid the sweltering heat that persisted since the past week.

Political authorities in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan scrambled after it was learnt that a local man, employed by Wapda had caused the power breakdown. “It was a mischief rather than a technical fault”, Secretary Fata (Security) Brig. Mahmood Shah told Dawn.

Power to the North Waziristan Agency remained suspended for more than 12 hours.

Brig. Shah said that a watchman, locally called Badraga, had intentionally short-circuited wires by pulling a chain over the main transmission line. The watchman was angry over his sacking by Wapda for alleged irregularities, the official said.

A Badraga is employed to look after a certain length of power transmission line.

Authorities in the North Waziristan were directed to take immediate action as soon the cause of breakdown was confirmed, he said. The Political Agent, accompanied by an armed contingent, had rushed to the Frontier Region, Bannu and removed the chain from the transmission line. “The power was restored at around 4pm”, Shah said.