TIMERGARA: A jirga on Monday helped two families settle a blood feud here.

Haji Iqbal, whose son was killed by members of the other family six years ago over a water dispute, announced unconditional forgiveness for the killers during a special ceremony in Dermal Bala village here.

The two families promise to live peacefully in the area in future.

Besides jirga members including Balambat tehsil nazim Imranuddin, Maulana Attaur Rehman, Maulana Mohammad Nabi Shah, district councillor Saiful Islam and others, the local residents, relatives of the rival families and political activists were also present on the occasion.

TEACHERS WARN: The teachers of Lower Dir district on Monday warned that they would resist the government’s proposed changes to pension policy.

The warning was issued by the Tanzeemi Asateza Lower Dir chapter during a meeting in Balambat here with provincial president of the Teachers’ Coordination Council Syed Mohammad Shah in the chair.

The speakers, including Sadiq Ahmad, Muhibullah, Sardar Khan, Abdul Hamid Jan and Ikramullah, said the government had planned to change pension policy for its employee depriving them of financial benefits and therefore, the teachers won’t accept it.

They also rejected the appointment of women teachers to primary schools for boys in the province and declared the move against Pakhtun traditions. The speakers said the teachers would resist the move.

BLOCKED CNICs: The Mishwani tribe of Jandol area in Lower Dir district on Monday demanded of the federal government to resolve the issue of blocked computerised national identity cards before the upcoming general elections.

The demand was made during a meeting of Mishwani tribe in Samarbagh TMA rest house. Tribal elder Malik Ahmad Shah chaired the meeting.

The speakers including Qazi Azizul Haq Usmani, Ubaidullah Sajid, Haji Masil Khan and Malik Peerzada complained that CNICs of hundreds of Mishwani tribesmen with Pakistani origin had been blocked.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2017