LANDI KOTAL: Scores of educated youth in Landi Kotal held a protest demonstration on Tuesday against the prolonged suspension of 3G mobile net service.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demand for restoration of the mobile Internet service, the youth marched through the streets of Landi Kotal bazaar and reached the press club.

Speaking on the occasion, Khyber Youth Forum president Aamir Afridi said that the mobile phone net service was suspended on June 12 and no reason was cited for its suspension despite several contacts with the mobile companies and local administration.

He said that access to information was the basic right of every citizen, but the people of Fata were denied this right without any justification. He said that speedy net service was required for submission of their application forms in different institutions and also used for acquiring information about various academic courses.

Another young speaker Bakht Ali Shah said that suspension of 3G net service was tantamount to suppressing the voice of people. The youth warned to stage a demonstration in front of the Governor House if the service was not restored till Aug 14.

DEATH CONDOLED: The Khyber Agency chapter of Tribal Union of Journalists on Tuesday held a condolence reference at the Jamrud Press Club to condole the death of two TV cameramen in a suicide blast in Quetta on Aug 8.

Mediapersons from Jamrud, Bara and Landi Kotal participated in the reference and expressed their deep sorrow over the incident.

TUJ Khyber chapter president Qazi Fazalullah said that journalists and lawyers were targeted in Quetta as they always raised the voice for the needy people.

He said that black flags would be hoisted atop all the three local press clubs and three days of mourning would be observed.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2016