KOHAT: Hundreds of women accompanied by their children on Saturday demonstrated in the main Kohat Bazaar against the prolonged power suspension.

The protesters blocked the main road in the area by placing cots on it and burning old tyres.

Shouting slogans and holding placards, they came down hard on the Pesco for making their life by not repairing faulty power transformer for several days and thus, causing suspension of electric supply for long hours during scorching hot days.

The protesters complained about water shortage and said their repeated requests to the Pesco for smooth electric supply had fallen on deaf ears.

Disperse after Pesco promises early restoration of electricity

The local station house officer showed up and requested protesters in vain to disperse as they wanted to the Pesco officials to assure them of immediate end to their misery.

Later, the Pesco officials along with local elders and police official turned up and told the mob that the faulty transformer would be repaired within 24 hours.

The assurance led to the protesters’ peaceful dispersal.

However, electric supply remained suspended until the last reports came in.

When contacted, the Pesco officials insisted the problem would take ‘some time’ for resolution.

REVENUE OFFICIAL HELD: The anti-corruption department of Kohat region on Saturday arrested a senior official of the revenue department for fraud after the Bannu anti-corruption judge denied him pre-arrest bail.

Tehsildar Ghulam Mohammad along with alleged accomplices, including naib tehsildar Mohammad Arif and revenue officials Mussadiq Gul and Syed Haroon, were arrested at the Bannu Judicial Complex.

A widow has accused the four of illegally transferring her land and preparing papers of her fake divorce and a bogus decree from the Akora Khattak seminary.

After the arrest, the suspects were shifted to the anti-corruption department’s lockups in Kohat and Karak.

They are likely to be produced before the court shortly for physical remand.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2014