MANSEHRA: The police have arrested the principal of the privately-owned Al-Khidmat Foundation School Kawai over the electrocution of three students and a teacher in the flag-hoisting ceremony.

“We have taken the school’s principal into custody over the deaths, while raids are being made to arrest the Pesco sub-divisional officer,” SHO of Balakot police Shahjehan Khan told reporters here on Thursday.

The electrocution incident occurred when a heavy electric transmission line touched the flagpole during the morning assembly at the Al-Khidmat Foundation School earlier this week.

Mansehra police say raids under way to arrest Pesco official

The police arrested principal Mujahid Hussain Shah in Kawai and shifted him to Balakot for investigation.

The parents of student had named the principal and Pesco SDO Mansoor Ahmad in the FIR registered under sections 322 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

A news release issued by the Pesco said federal power minister Umar Ayub Khan had ordered an inquiry into the incident for the punishment of the culpable officials under the relevant laws.

The minister also expressed condoled deaths and promised strict action against those responsible for them.

Provincial Chief Minister Mehmood Khan also ordered an inquiry into the incident sympathising with the relevant families.

PRICE HIKE RESENTED: The people have resented the recent increase in gas price and demanded its immediate withdrawal, saying higher gas price will stress out people by increasing inflation.

“Though the government claims that the gas price hike won’t adversely affect domestic consumers, the claim is false as the higher gas rate will increase prices of other goods as well,” said resident Mohammad Ajmal.

He said domestic consumers should be expected from the increase in gas rate.

The resident said the PTI had come to power promising to ease the people’s problems but it had begun bothering the people by increasing prices.

Another resident, Qamar Hanif, said the people were already struggling to pay utility bills and therefore, the higher gas rate would add to their misery.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018