KOHAT: The authorities have been asked to allocate land for a new graveyard in the Kohat city as the existing centuries-old graveyard has no place left to bury the dead.

The existing graveyard is also a neglected place as it is without electricity, water supply, a watchman and a proper place for offering funerals thanks to the apathy of the tehsil municipal administration.

The officials have never visited the graveyard and the lawmakers have also been evading their responsibility to allocate land for a new graveyard.

Ali Mohammad Paracha, an office-bearer of Pakistan Welfare Society and Janan Baba Trust, a private entity, said whenever a fresh grave was dug bones appeared in it, but as there was no place left even two bodies were buried at one place. He said the remains of the old graves had to be put in a pit.

Mr Paracha recalled that a few years ago the TMA had launched a search for finding a suitable place for a new graveyard, but then the idea was dropped for unknown reasons. He said the existing graveyard was full of bushes and it was difficult for the people to walk to the graves of their near and dear ones.

The social activist said the Janan Baba Trust had offered to provide coffins, slabs, and also take the responsibility for cleaning the graveyard in return for construction of a room for watchman and allocation of funds for installing a tubewell and electricity supply, but the TMA was not ready to provide the necessities.

Mr Paracha said the funeral place was also in a shambles as it had no gate, electricity and water supply.

SCORES ARRESTED: The Jarma police conducted an operation in the surroundings of the Kohat prison and held eight Afghan refugees and 11 facilitators of proclaimed offenders among 80 persons on Sunday.

The targeted operation led by ASP Danial Ahmed Javed and SHO Qismat Khan was also joined by the elite force personnel.

The accused were shifted to the police station where cases were registered against them.

A Kalashnikov, a shotgun, two rifles, three pistols and hundreds of cartridges were also seized from the arrested men.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2019