KOHAT: If one travels to Hangu and does not visit the scenic Samana hilly area the tour will be incomplete. Located at 6,300 feet above the sea level, Samana is at three hours journey from Kohat in the west.

Constructions were made in the serene valley in 1891 after the British went there to subdue the Orakzai tribe. It has beautiful rest houses and trees of wild apple and walnut. They rest houses include the Orakzai House, also known as Governor’s Cottage, and that of the communication and works department, while the army has also constructed some rooms there.

The road which goes uphill the Samana is steep, narrow and dangerous and needs expert drivers to reach the spot.

There the Fort Lockhart and the monument of 21 Sikh soldiers who died while fighting are worth seeing.

The serene hill station is located at 6,300 feet above the sea level

The fort was constructed in 1891 after the conclusion of the Miranzai expedition by General Sir William Lockhart, commander of Kohat Garrison. The fort was basically built as a military outpost to humble the formidable Orakzai tribes who did not want to submit to the British Empire.

“When we came out of the rest house after a chilly night in the summer we found ourselves surrounded in the clouds. We passed through them as we strolled in the area,” said Musaddiq Mansoor. The people there are friendly, but backward still living in old ages.

The temperature during summer at Samana remains between 9 and 15 degree Celsius, but it has not been turned into a hilly resort. The visitors have demanded of the government to develop Samana into a tourist resort.

PARKING PROBLEM: The tussle between the lawyers and the district sports association has intensified over the occupation of the basketball court in the sports complex for parking of vehicles of lawyers and visitors to the local courts.

“We have discussed the matter with the assistant commissioner Mohammad Omair and district sports officer, but to no avail,” said provincial president of sports association, Faqeerur Rehman, on Sunday.

He accused the president of district bar association, Amaad Azam, for the illegal occupation of the court. “I have learnt that he along with other lawyers went to the tehsil nazim and got permission and official order for parking of the lawyers’ vehicles on the court,” Mr Rehman claimed.

He said that they had also raised the issue with Mr Azam, but he showed the permission letter issued by the tehsil government.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2016