KOHAT, April 26: Commissioner Kohat division Jalaluddin said on Friday that the government was determined to ensure foolproof security for holding of peaceful elections in Hangu and Orakzai Agency.

He said this during his visit of the most sensitive polling stations in Hangu district. He said that security would be gradually beefed up at the polling stations and for candidates as the elections date drew closer. He said that services of retired police and army men would also be hired for security purposes.

The commissioner said that each candidate was allowed to carry five ex-servicemen as guards with them for their security, but warned that any candidate carrying more than allowed guards could be banned from contesting elections.

Mr Jalaluddin visited the most sensitive and sensitive polling stations in NA-16, KP-42 and KP-43 constituencies in Hangu and reviewed the security arrangements. He was accompanied by Orakzai Agency political agent Mohammad Aslam, Hangu administration officials and tribal elders.

At Orakzai headquarters in Hangu the commissioner distributed 173 health cards among the heirs of Levies force martyrs. At a meeting with the elders from Orakzai Agency, he asked them to avoid using controversial speeches during campaign.

WARD OPENED: The emergency ward of the district headquarters hospital of Hangu was opened to patients after four years on Friday.

The newly-appointed medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr Mohammad Azam Wazir, told media persons that the hospital was ready to receive and treat serious patients. An NGO, Doctors Sans Frontiers, is running the operation theatre of the hospital. The MS said that they would work side by side in the conflict-hit zone to save precious human lives.

The hospital’s emergency ward was closed after rival sects tried to take its control and did not allow the injured opponents inside it.

KILLED: A car hit a minor girl to death while she was crossing Rawalpindi road in the limits of Saddar police station here on Friday.

The girl was identified as Alishah. The police arrested the accused and have registered the case against him. —Correspondent