KOHAT: Twenty-three candidates were arrested and three expelled from the examination centre for using unfair means and giving paper in place of real applicants during the Etea test for recruitment of police constables here on Sunday.

A cricket ground had been converted into examination hall for 532 candidates from Hangu, Karak and Kohat, where strict security arrangements had been made.

Thirteen candidates were arrested for cheating, 10 for giving examinations in place of others, and three were expelled for using mobile phones during the exam. The arrested persons were shifted to the Junglekhel police station where cases were registered against them, according to a statement.

LOW VOLTAGE: Low voltage has perturbed the electricity consumers in rural areas along the Hangu road. Councillor Mian Shah Raza told Dawn on Sunday that even after the discovery of gas in 2002 they had to use wood for heating water for washing, bathing and ablution in homes and mosques. He said the local forests had depleted and firewood had also become costly.

He said the people had to use heavy duty regulators even for washing machines and ironing or washing clothes.

The consumers of Kachai, Marai, Mitha Khan and Ustarzai town are also facing low power voltage.

Chairman of a local welfare body, Esar Bangash, told Dawn that the most affected parts were Chakarkot, Chakarkot Bala, Khadizai, Alizai, Sara Khwara, Spina Khawara and Bhuji Tang.

He said almost every household had installed solar system for lightning, especially to run fans during summer, when loadshedding increased to 18 hours a day. He regretted that the Senate sub-committees on gas had been visiting and ordering SNGPL to provide gas to Kohat and Hangu for last five years but it fell on deaf ears.

He recalled that according to a verdict of Peshawar high Court the people of the areas where gas was being pumped had the first right on the facility.

ANTI-POLIO DRIVE: The Hangu, Kohat and Darra Adamkhel administrations have finalised arrangements for the foolproof security of the health teams for the three-day anti-polio drive starting from Monday (today). In Darra Adamkhel tehsil, 18,000 children will be vaccinated, while in Kohat and Hangu, 303,310 children would get anti-polio drops.

Officials said directions had been issued to the teams to immediately report refusal cases so that action could be taken against the parents by engaging elders and ulema.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2018