6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), April 5: A brother of an outlaw is reported to have been flogged on the orders of the Bara Peace Committee for his alleged involvement in an attack on its naib amir. Activists of the committee took into custody Asghar Khan, brother of Sedak Zakhakhel, a few days back after he had been found guilty of making an attempt on the life of Naib Amir Mustameem Khan. The committee had demolished the house of Sedak Zakhakhel on February 3 for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a dental surgeon, Dr Sarwar Shah.

Mr Zakhakhel, who was in the custody of the Bara political administration, fled from prison on Feb 16 and reportedly issued a warning to the peace committee that he would take revenge for the demolition of his house.

The committee ordered arrest of Sedak Zakhakhel and his brother.

The self-proclaimed peace committee, which was formed last year with support of the political administration, established a private jail on the Shalobar Road soon after its formation. It mostly comprises religious figures of the area.

The committee awarded severe punishment to two of its prison guards when a prisoner escaped from their custody a few weeks back. The two were reportedly hung upside down and lashed.

Asghar was lashed and fined Rs200,000 for not obeying orders of the committee.

STRIKE: Shopkeepers observed a strike and blocked the Torkham highway on Tuesday to protest against discontinuation of electricity supply to their shops by the Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco).

Tesco officials had disconnected on Saturday supply to around 300 shops in the Landi Kotal bazaar and Torkham as part of Wapda’s campaign to install meters in tribal areas.

Power supply to eight transformers was also snapped aimed at prevent illegal use of electricity.

There was a clash between shopkeepers and Wapda staffers when shopkeepers tried to get the supply restored by pulling down fuses of certain transformers in the market. Later, they closed their shops and blocked the Torkham highway.

A representative of shopkeepers, Jamshed Khan, said they were regularly paying between Rs500 and Rs1,000 monthly to the Wapda staff posted at the Landi Kotal grid station.

He said Wapda officials had also targeted those shopkeepers who had installed meters at their shops.