KHAR: Bajaur Levies on Sunday foiled a terrorist attempt and arrested two persons with a big cache of explosives and bomb making material during a raid in Utmankhel tehsil here.

Bajaur Agency assistant political agent Sohail Ahmed Khan told journalists that the Levies personnel on a tip-off chased a vehicle coming from Lower Dir district and stopped it in Zulam area. He said 800 fuses, 200 meter wire and 200 kilogram explosives were seized from the vehicle. The arrested persons were shifted to the agency headquarters here for investigation, he added.

Sohail Ahmed said that the explosives were meant for carrying out terror activities in the area, adding that the timely action of the law enforces thwarted the sabotage bid.

The official said the administration had also beefed up security across the agency to keep peace in the region. He said that additional Levies personnel had been deployed at entrance and exit points of the agency to keep vigil on suspected persons near the border with Afghanistan.

BAN LIFTED: The local administration has lifted the four-month-long ban on construction of new shops along the bypass road in Inayat Kellay Bazaar. An official told Dawn that the decision to withdraw the ban was taken in the larger interest of the traders’ community.

The official said the administration was taking all out efforts to encourage the business and trade activities in the region for socio-economic development of the people.

Meanwhile, the elders have criticised the local administration’s decision allowing construction of new shops and commercial buildings along the bypass road. They said the construction of commercial buildings along the busy road would disturb the traffic flow. They urged the administration to revoke the decision because it was against the public interest.

TRADERS’ BODY ELECTIONS: Haji Lali Shah Pakhtun Yar was elected president of the Khar Traders Association for two years during an election held here on Sunday. According to the results, Pakhtun Yar bagged 789 votes.

Ten candidates participated in the election, while over 3,000 shopkeepers cast their vote for which 29 polling booths were set up in different markets and bazaars. According to the election committee the other officer bearers would be selected by the president within two weeks.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2014