KOHAT: The Chor Lakki bridge, which links eight villages with the main Rawalpindi road, has been lying broken for the last two years, causing problems to the local people.

Similarly, a pothole right in the middle of Boraka road poses threat to the lives of people. The Shahpur road also turns into a pool during rain, resulting in problems to the motorists and pedestrians.

Chor Lakki union council nazim Iqbal Khan and Malik Ajmal Khan, when contacted, said that they were running from pillar to post for reconstruction of the bridge. They said that eight villages were disconnected from Kohat city after the bridge was damaged.

They said that the alternative routes were also closed during rain. They said that immense problems were faced by the patients, who could not be shifted to the hospitals.

Nazim says he is running from pillar to post to sanction funds for its repair

The nazim said that officials told him that the structure was not mentioned as bridge in files after its construction in 1982, therefore, funds had not been sanctioned for it for the last two years.

He said that the officials told him that it was a long bridge and required millions of rupees for reconstruction.

The officials said that first of all PC-1 had to be changed from convert to a bridge and then demand would be made for release of funds.

The elders of Shahpur, Shakir Bangash said that their town road was broken at several places and rain water accumulated on it.

SDO Zahid also clarified that the ChorLakki bridge came under the jurisdiction of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority instead of communication and works department but the people blamed them for the delay.

KILLED: Two young men were killed by unidentified armed motorcyclists near government high school Lachi tehsil late on Wednesday night.

The victims, Hassan Omer and Ijaz Khan, were passing near the school when unidentified gunmen riding motorcycle opened fire at them with automatic weapons. They were taken to KDA hospital from where Hassan Umer was referred to Peshawar but he succumbed to his injuries there. The families of the victims said that they had no enmity with anyone.

Meanwhile, Ustarzai police seized eight kilograms of hashish being smuggled from Orakzai tribal district to Punjab in a vehicle. Police registered a case against Mokhair Ali of Orakzai.

Also, deputy commissioner has banned establishing of private cattle markets throughout the district with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2019