LANDI KOTAL: PTI MNA from Bara subdivision of Khyber district Iqbal Afridi on Saturday said an across-the-board accountability would soon be initiated for all relevant government officials and former parliamentarians from the tribal districts over the use of funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the militancy-hit area since the return of displaced families.

He told Dawn that after the massive destruction caused by militancy and military operations in Bara, corruption and misappropriation of development funds had also added to the misery of the returning families.

“The people’s representatives in connivance with the relevant government officials withdraw cheques worth millions of rupees in the recent past though they’re meant for rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said.

Mr Afridi regretted that the residents of Bara had been awaiting basic amenities of life since their return in 2014.

He said committees had been formed at community level in different parts of Bara to produce details of funds misappropriation.

The MNA insisted that funds didn’t reach many deserving families.

He said the government would ensure payment of compensation to the people with damaged or destroyed houses, while Shuhada Package would be offered to the families, whose members had killed by militants.

Mr Afridi said the government would also address water shortage, power outages and lack of facilities in the region.

He said the country’s laws would soon be extended to tribal districts.

TWO HELD: Two people were held in Jamrud for not cooperating with the officials during the anti-dengue campaign.

Forty residents have been diagnosed with dengue in the area since the start of this month. The officials said 83 teams had been formed for the anti-dengue campaign but the local residents didn’t cooperate with them in eliminating the mosquito breeding sites.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2018