KOHAT: Acting on the directives of district police officer Mohammad Sohaib Ashraf, the police arrested 13 illegal Afghan refugees along with

126 other suspects and recovered weapons from their possession here on Friday.

Officials told Dawn on inquiry that usually Afghan staying illegally were kept in the prison for a day or two and then handed over to Afghan commissionerate, Peshawar, for deportation under the Foreign Act.

They said that there were 13,000 Afghan families staying illegally in Kohat and Hangu districts and they had been asked to leave because the extended deadline set for them by the commissioner, Kohat division, would expire in a week. The police elite force had launched an operation on Thursday night, which continued till Friday morning.

The police teams also checked 90 houses and 65 hostels and arrested 23 owners for not complying with legal requirements for hiring a house and keeping record of guests. The action was taken in KDA Town and Lachi tehsil of Kohat.

During his visit to schools and colleges the DPO, meanwhile, warned the head teachers to make proper security arrangements within a week.

BODIES BROUGHT FOR BURIAL: The bodies of seven victims of Peshawar Imambargah attack, including that of DSP Naveed Abbas, were brought here on Friday night for burial in various parts of Kohat.

The deceased included DSP Naveed Abbas,Gulfam Hussain, Zaidi Ali, Zafar Abbas and Syed Arif Hussain, who belonged to Sher Kot, Muhallah Sikanadar Shaheed in the city, Ustarzai and Ibraheemzai villages. They would be laid to rest in their ancestral graveyards on Saturday.

Afghans staying illegally to be deported, say officials

Meanwhile, unknown armed militants kidnapped seven people from Shahoo area of Hangu on Friday and freed them later. The police said that the reason for the incident could be cutting of wood from the disputed mountain of Shahoo. They included Kareem, Rehmanullah, Amanullah, Imran, Aamir, Tayyab and Hadiur Rehman.

TEHSILDAR EXPELLED: Authorities here on Friday expelled tehsildar from Kohat after an inquiry found him involved in illegal allotment of land and corruption.

Deputy commissioner Kamran Afridi has been receiving complaints against tehsildar Ghulam Mohammad. He in a letter to commissioner Jamaluddin has informed him of the complaints against the tehsildar.

Assistant director of anti-corruption department, Kohat, Ali Hassan told Dawn on phone that he would see the case and after investigation take him to task. He said that such officials should also return the looted money and undergo jail term.

Meanwhile, seven police officials, including SHO Shah Doran, ASI, havaldars and constables, have been sent on forced retirement over corruption charges. DIG police Ishtiaq Marwat told Dawn that there was no place for black sheep in the department.

Published in Dawn February 14th , 2015

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