LANDI KOTAL: In clear violation of the Section 144 imposed by the Khyber district administration on March 26 to restrict gathering of people, the assistant commissioner, Landi Kotal, along with two local MPAs participated in a so-called awareness session about coronavirus at the main Bacha Khan Chowk on Tuesday.

The event was participated by over 100 local traders, students and civil society activists. It was organised by Khyber Students Organisation.

Assistant commissioner Mohammad Imran and MPAs Shafeeq Sher Afridi and Wilson Wazir freely socialised with the event participants.

Reacting to the irresponsible behaviour of the officials and public representatives, local residents questioned the rationale of imposing the Section 144 when local officials and the MPAs themselves were not adopting the preventive measures.

Waheed Afridi, a local journalist, said the event was more about a photo session than sensitising the general public to the dangers of the deadly virus. He said a door-to-door campaign should be launched to effectively put the message across.

Also in the day, Aamir Shehzad, another official of the district administration in Malagori sub-tehsil of Jamrud subdivision, arranged a function at the Lowarra Maina Civil Hospital where he handed over beds, slippers, prayer mats, soaps, quilts and drinking water to the inmates of a quarantine centre.

A number of local elders, tribesmen along with health officials and local police participated in the event.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2020