SWABI: Jirga members of four villages of Topi tehsil have demanded that the 18,000-kanal land, which had been allegedly occupied by different powerful people, should be returned to the owners in the light of Supreme Court verdict.

A few days ago, the apex court in its verdict ruled that the owners of the property should get it. The jirga members of Topi, Kotha, Batakara and Pontya demanded implementation of the verdict and said that they wanted a peaceful transfer of the property.

The jirga meeting held here the other day was attended by people of the four villages wherein the elders said that it was the responsibility of district administration to help them in transfer of the land.

Hakeem Khan, former chairman of Batakara union council, said that the true owners of the land had fought a collective legal battle for 27 years.

Zahid Zaman, another jirga member, said that the revenue department, district police and district administration should extend help to them.

Nadeem Tahirkheli said that they had formed committees for holding talks with the officials of the district administration and revenue department.

PICNICKER DROWNED: A teenage picnicker from Yar Hussain village drowned in downstream Tarbela Dam here the other day, said police.

Huzaifa Khan, 16, had come to the downstream area of Tarbela Dam for picnic and was busy bathing along with his friends.

However, he suddenly slipped into deep water and drowned. Local divers later recovered the body.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2019