KOHAT: A first-ever open kutchery was held by chief executive officer of the cantonment board, Kohat, Hayat Baloch for listening to and resolving the problems of the residents on Friday.

It was attended by board’s vice-chairman Asad Javed, members and the residents. The CEO after listening to the problems of the people issued on the spot orders for their resolution.

In the second session, the problems faced by the staff were heard and the board’s superintendent was asked to resolve them.

The open kutchery was held amid increasing demand by the people for proper demarcation of the jurisdiction between the cantonment board and the tehsil municipal administration for ensuring cleanliness of the disputed areas.

The residents paying all taxes but living in the civilian portion of the cantonment urged the authorities to make sure cleanliness of the drains. They said even an inch of the commercial area was not spared by the cantonment board but when it came to cleaning of drains they were left for the TMA.

Both the TMA and the cantonment board have locked horns over territorial jurisdiction for decades which has multiplied the miseries of residents.

Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, TMA encroachment officer Mohammad Waqas said the said areas came within the cantonment limits and it was bound to clean them also.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the elected civilian members of the cantonment board said they could not raise their voice for the people’s rights.

MUHARRAM SECURITY: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Saleem Khan has paid tributes to the mutual commitment of the Shia and Sunni communities of Hangu and Kohat districts for maintaining peace during Muharram.

He was speaking to a traditional joint jirga of the elders of both the sects held at the Commissioner House. Provincial police chief Dr Naeem Khan, president of Sunni Supreme Council Maulana Abdul Sattar, former MNA Javed Ibraheem Paracha, former high court chief justice Ibn e Ali, commissioner Kohat division Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah, DIG Tayyab Hafeez Cheema, deputy commissioners and district police officers of Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Orakzai and Kurram, ulema and business community members were in attendance.

The chief secretary and IGP hoped that this year too Muharam would pass peacefully with cooperation of the people. They said it was heartening that today an atmosphere of brotherhood and unity was prevailing in the most sensitive region and people wanted peace and tranquility.

At the end of the jirga, prayers were offered for existence of the country, liberation of Kashmir and a peaceful Muharram.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2019