SWABI: The members of the district council said here on Thursday that Muslims were appointed as sweepers in Swabi by the previous local government.

Through a unanimously adopted resolution during the session of the council, the councillors demanded to adjust such ‘sweepers’ on some other posts and appoint Christians of the district in their place.

“The job of sweeper is right of only Christian community. In the past, the local government representatives appointed their supporters on these posts in flagrant violation of rules and regulations,” they said.

Accuse previous local govt of recruiting Muslims as sweepers

Taking part in the debate Amir Nawab said that the Muslim presently working as sweepers should be adjusted as watchmen and peons in different departments as soon as possible.

Shafqat Rani said that deprivation of Christians of the sweeper posts created unrest among them. The members of Christian community had raised the issue at different forums but no one was ready to resolve their problem.

The councillors also criticised police, saying the law enforcers failed to work according to the wishes of the local people. They said that police should leave no stone unturned in provision of security to people.

They said that police should create a friendly environment to reduce distance between law enforcers and people. “Police must remember that they cannot deliver without the support of people,” said Ms Rani.

The councillors also offered Fateha for the departed soul of renowned religious scholar Maulana Hamdullah Jan Dagai, who passed away five days ago.

OUTAGES: The residents of Zaida have criticised the authorities concerned for unscheduled power loadshedding in their area.

They said that no one was ready to resolve the issue despite their repeated complaints. They alleged that they contacted the staff of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) but the officials always dodged them.

Mohammad Shoaib, a local businessman, said that electricity supply remained suspended for several hours even after a light rain.

Muhammad Adil, another resident of the area, said whenever they contacted the Pesco staff during rain they simple answer was that “a fault has been developed in main transmission line and till its removal the electricity will remain suspended.” The locals said that Pesco must take steps to resolve the issue of prolonged loadshedding in the area.

The Pesco officials, when contacted, said that they suspended the power supply only when transmission line developed a fault.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019