KARAK: Civil society activists have demanded of the district government and local lawmakers to construct a playground in Chountra area of Karak tehsil to prevent the youngsters from falling into the hands of drug peddlers.

The demand was made at a meeting here on Monday chaired by activist Maulana Waheed Shah.

The meeting expressed concern over the lack of sports facilities in Chountra.

They said youngsters were falling prey to ice drug. They said sports activities could engage the youth in health activities thus keeping them from being addicted to drugs, particularly ice.

They also demanded of the district government to construct playgrounds across the district.

DISPUTE RESOLVED: A reconciliation committee on Monday brought the Khattak and Dawar tribes to the negotiating table, thus ending their enmity.

Addressing the ceremony, the speakers, including provincial joint secretary of ANP Khursheed Khattak, former MNA Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz, Khattak Ittehad president Khursheed Sultan and others recalled that Tahir Ayub Khattak, former president of traders’ body, and his two relatives survived attempts on their lives on two occasions.

They said the members of the Dawar tribe had admitted that they had done a wrong by attacking the former head of traders’ body for extortion.

They said the family of Tahir Ayub had also pardoned the attackers for the sake of harmony.

On the occasion, the arbitrators asked the Dawar tribe to pay Rs5 million and four oxen to the family of Tahir Ayub as compensation, which they did.

PSF REVIVED: Peoples Students Federation, a student wing of Pakistan Peoples Party, was revived in the government degree college, Takht-i-Nusrati, after three decades.

Senior vice president of PPP, Karak chapter, Tariq Bazidkhel was also present on the occasion.

Later, the PSF newly-elected president, Rizwan Khattak led a rally which passed through different bazaars, carrying banners and flags of the party.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019