MANSEHRA: The residents of Oghi on Tuesday complained about the police’s failure to address the issues of law and order, traffic and drug peddling in tehsil.

The complaints were made during an open forum organised by the police in Oghi, where district police officer Ahsan Saifullah, deputy superintendent of police Shimraz Khan and Oghi SHO Wajid Ali were in attendance.

Citizen Noman Khan Usmani said the police knew the whereabouts of drug peddlers, who were spoiling the youths, but didn’t crack down on them.

He said the police arrested drug addicts only but narcotics dealers were free to carry out their illegal business.

Another citizen, Rafeeudden, said traffic in Oghi bazaar and its suburbs was a mess as there were only three wardens, who didn’t manage to control traffic.

He said Oghi had six traffic police wardens 10 years ago but the number had gone down to three causing traffic chaos in the city.

Mr Rafeeudden said the number of traffic accidents was on the rise in Oghi city and outskirts due to underage driving and motorcycle riding.

Some participants complained about the growing incidence of kidnappings and theft and also said the police were short of personnel.

The DPO acknowledged that not only were Oghi police understaffed but Mansehra district police, too, faced an acute shortage of personnel.

He urged local lawmakers to take up the matter in the assemblies for corrective measures by the government.

He said the police force was free of any political influence.

“Even MNAs and MPAs cannot pressure the police to lodge or remove FIRs,” he said.

The DPO urged the people to help the police fight crimes.

STRIKE CALL WITHDRAWN: Transporters on Tuesday withdrew the call for a wheel-jam strike after the district administration of Upper Kohistan assured them that the companies working on 4,300 megawatts Dasu hydropower project would rent their vehicles.

The assurance was given by deputy commissioner Mohammad Asif during a meeting with the representatives of transporters in Dasu here.

The transporters had earlier threatened to observe a wheel-jam strike alleging that the companies working on the dam had hired vehicles from areas outside Kohistan in violation of an agreement reached between the district administration and locals.

They said they wanted companies to hire local transport vehicles to benefit Kohistan’s people from the dam under construction in the area.

The DC said he had called a meeting of local transporters and representatives of project companies to discuss modalities for the purpose. He said he was hopeful about the amicable resolution of the issue after the withdrawal of the wheel-jam strike call.

The local youths with formal education also attended the meeting and demanded the deputy commissioner of ensure provision of the dam project jobs to the educated locals.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2017