GHALANAI: Residents of border areas in Khwezai tehsil here on Saturday protested excessive power outages.

They also held a jirga in the Atta Bazaar area, where the elders complained that they had only two hours of electricity in 24 hours.

The protesters were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company officials for subjecting Khwezai residents to prolonged loadshedding.

They also complained of low voltage that damaged their electronic appliances. They threatened to storm the local Tesco office if power outages were not ended forthwith.

ROAD PROJECT: Tribesmen have demanded of the political administration to carry out a fresh survey for construction of a proposed road to Kuz Ghandhab area.

The demand was made during a jirga held at Anat Kore on other day.

The tribesmen alleged that some people with vested interest were pursuing the works and services department officials to construct the road on the previous survey, which bypassed several villages.

They also requested local MNA Malik Bilal Rehman to order fresh survey for the road project. The elders complained that they were being sidelined in the execution of the project despite the fact that the road would be constructed on their land.

An elder alleged that the road route was being changed on the wish of a single person at the cost of residents of eight villages.

The elders threatened to stage protest outside the Governor House if their demand was not accepted.

HOUSES GUTTED: Two houses were gutted in a fire caused by electricity short-circuit in Babi Khel village of Haleemzai tehsil.

Locals told Dawn that the houses were owned by two brothers, Zafeer Gul and Itbar Gul.

They demanded of the political administration to compensate the owners because they had lost everything in the blaze.

PHONE SERVICE SUSPENSION: The Mohmand Agency has been without mobile phone services for last 12 days.

The authorities had on March 15 suspended all mobile phone services across the tribal agency without putting forth any reason.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions Senator Hilal-ur-Rahman also took up the issue on the floor of the Upper House, but to no avail.

Mohammad Ayaz Khan, a student, said due to suspension of mobile phone services, they were facing difficulties to contact their relatives and friends.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2017