LAKKI MARWAT: Criticising the ‘poor’ performance of police, the district nazim has asked the provincial government to take notice of poor law and order situation in Lakki Marwat.

District nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel told a press conference on Sunday that police officials appointed in the district from outside were ignorant of local traditions and were not interested in curbing crime.

“It is the responsibility of policemen to protect people’s lives and maintain law and order,” he said, “but police officials were not discharging their professional obligations.

He was flanked by district naib nazim Arab Khan and district councillors Iqbal Hussain, Shafqatullah Khan, Fareedullah, Khalid Khan, Munawar Khan and others.

Mr Meenakhel alleged that the local government representatives and elders were disrespected at the police stations. He said murder and theft incidents were on the rise, and gambling and narcotics dens were operating without fear as police had failed to act against them.

“To lodge an FIR with police has become a hard nut to crack for people,” the district nazim said, alleging that Punjab police had been allowed to launch actions in the district, who were picking up people and shifting them to their province without fulfilling legal formalities.

The nazim asked the chief minister to send a committee of MPs to the district to inquire into the matter. He also demanded transfer of the district police chief.

BLOOD FEUD RESOLVED: Two rival clans of remote Chuharkhel village on Sunday resolved their old blood feud.

The enmity between Azmatkhels and Khan Meerkhels has so far claimed seven lives from both the sides, besides creating law and order situation in the locality.

The Azmatkhel clan led by Khan Mohammad lost its four men, while three people were killed from Khan Meerkhel clan headed by Sarwar Khan.

However, a group of local elders met chieftains of both the clans and convinced them to bury their differences. They also requested the members of dispute resolution council to mediate the issue.

The council members, after hearing both the clans, organised a reconciliation meeting between them.

Provincial police director general project coordination unit Saleem Khan Marwat, head of Marwat Qaumi Jirga Haji Mohammad Khan, councillors and a large number of villagers also attended the meeting.

BOARD EXAMS: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Bannu, will carry out video surveillance of matriculation examination centres as part of a plan to curb cheating.

It was decided during a training session for SSC examination superintendents held in Lakki city on Sunday. The examination is commencing from March 15.

BISE chairman Jahandad Khan Marwat said video cameras connected to recording devices would be used to observe and monitor activities within examination centres to eliminate practice of cheating and ensure smooth conduct of examinations. He said the performance of supervisory staff as well as activities taking place within examination centres will be monitored.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2017