KOHAT: Differences persist between the city’s two rival business unions here over collection of money for return of seized national identity cards to the shopkeepers.

Hafeez Khan, the elected president of All Tajir Ittehad, on Sunday termed baseless the allegation against them by the opponent Tajir Action Committee (TAC) that they had collected Rs300 from each shopkeeper for returning the identity cards collected by the administration during the anti-encroachment drive last month.

He said that TAC senior vice-president Israr Shinwari should have confirmed why they were taking money from the businessmen.

He clarified that they had collected money as a monthly fee from the businessmen, which was not a bribe. He said that TAC and Mushtarika Markets Union had not held elections for the last 25 years and imposed themselves on the business community. He alleged that TAC also resisted removal of encroachments. When contacted, TAC president Abid Khan said he was in jail when the opponent union collected the money and that Mr Shiwnari had its proofs.

MAN INJURED BY PIG: A resident of Shahabad colony was injured by a wild pig when he tried to chase the animal away on Saturday night.

Suleman Khan said he was returning home at 10pm when he saw a wild pig in the area. He said that he tried to chase the pig away which attacked and injured him. Herds of pigs could be seen in KDA Town and other areas on the bypass where they come down from the nearby mountains in the night. The people said the wildlife department was doing nothing to kill them so that they could live peacefully.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019