MANSEHRA: Employees of the Tehsil Municipal Administration Mansehra on Friday suspended the provision of civic services to the people after the tehsil nazim allegedly attacked and thrashed the tehsil municipal officer along with a councilor and his cousin.

“We have registered an FIR against the nazim, a councillor and another man, who beat up TMO Farman Ali Shah over refusal to issue a no-objection certificate for the development of a park in a private sector,” SHO of the city police station Shiraz Khan told reporters here.

After the attack, the TMA employees suspended civic services and took to the streets against the incident.

“We are going to observe a strike against the attack on the TMO and will keep all civic services suspended for indefinite period,” president of the Local Government Employees Union Sheikh Zubair told protesters outside their offices here.

TMO Farman Ali Shah lodged an FIR with the police claiming tehsil nazim Khurram Khan, tehsil councillor of City No 3 Umar Farooq along with his cousin, Mohammad Hanif, thrashed him and broke his nose in office over refusal to restore a suspended NOC for the establishment of Global Park.

The nazim however denied the charge and instead insisted that the TMO attacked and injured some of his subordinates.

WALK HELD: The people from different walks of life, including tourists and hoteliers, on Friday participated in a walk organised to increase awareness of ways to keep the picturesque Kaghan valley free from pollution and dirt.

The walk organised by the Kaghan Development Authority began from the Central Bridge in Naran and ended in the main bazaar after passing through various roads.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans advocating the valley free from garbage and pollution, the participants assembled in the main bazaar and removed litter.

“It is pity that tourists who are here to enjoy pleasant weather and beauty of Kaghan valley litter everywhere and thus, polluting environment,” Kaghan Development Authority deputy director Arif Baloch told participants.

He said the KDA had placed dustbins everywhere but tourists didn’t use them by and large and threw wrappers and polythene bags.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2017