SWABI: Two labourers from Punjab were killed and two others injured in a cylinder blast in Shagai area of Topi tehsil here on Friday.

According to police, labourers were busy in routine work in a market when a cylinder exploded. As a result, two of them were killed and two others suffered injuries. Soon after the explosion, the people rushed to the spot and take part in rescue work.

The deceased were identified as Rana Maqbool and Arsalan, both residents of Basti Hassanabad, Khanewal.

Maqsood Ahmad, who also belongs to Khanewal, and an Afghan refugee identified as Abdul Khaliq were injured in the blast. They were taken to a local hospital and then referred to Bacha Khan Hospital Complex, Shahmansoor.

Doctors at Bacha Khan Hospital told this correspondent that the injured were in critical condition and were likely to be shifted to Peshawar.

ACTION STOPPED: People of the congested Kotha village said on Friday that they had secured an order from a local court and the planned district administration’s anti-encroachment operation would not be conducted in the area because the property belonged to them and they did not indulge in encroachment.

They told this correspondent that soon after marking was made on their houses located on the edge of Topi-Kotha road they approached the local court for stopping any action. About one kilometre road in Kotha area is narrow and it is a longstanding demand of the people to widen the road to ease traffic flow.

Azam Khan advocate told this scribe that the elders of local people had left the required space for the road and then built their houses in the past.

He said that then officials of municipal committee had identified for them the correct position for building their houses and the documents were presented in the court.

ROAD IN BAD SHAPE: People belonging to Pirtab village have demanded reconstruction of 10-kilometre road, which is in dilapidated condition.

In a gathering at Pirtab, they said that the road was used by Afghan refugees and both small and heavy vehicles passed through it while major farming land was located on the edge of this road.

Wahid Zaman, a former councillor, and other participants urged National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and MPA Aqibullah to provide funds for reconstruction of the road.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2018