LAKKI MARWAT: Hundreds of villagers blocked the Indus Highway near Ghaznikhel here on Friday to protest the killing of a young woman in an alleged police encounter.

On Nov 27, Basmina Bibi along with a proclaimed offender, Gul Faraz, was killed in an exchange of fire with police in Jabukhel village.

Police had claimed the woman armed with an assault rifle had fired at police party, injuring personnel of Rapid Response Force.

On Friday morning, relatives of the deceased woman and the villagers blocked the highway for over three hours.

The protesters chanted slogans against the police.

JUI-F MNA Maulana Mohammad Anwar also joined the protesters and assured them that he would take up the incident with the quarters concerned.

The protesters condemned the woman’s killing and said Basmina was innocent. They demanded suspension of Ghaznikhel SHO and registration of murder FIR against him. They also asked for judicial probe into the incident.

Later, assistant commissioner Nadir Shahzad Khan and DSP Hidayatullah reached the place and got the highway reopened after holding successful talks with the elders.

Meanwhile, police arrested two outlaws on Friday. A police official said both the proclaimed offenders named Hayatullah and Naseebullah were arrested without any resistance. He said they carried Rs500,000 head money each.

POLIO OFFICIALS VISIT LAKKI: A team of provincial emergency operation centre (EOC) for polio visited the district on Friday to discuss with the stakeholders matters pertaining to preparations for the anti-polio drive commencing from next month.

The team members met deputy commissioner Jehangir Azam Wazir and got themselves acquainted about the recently-concluded special campaign to cover the refusal cases.

Officials of partners’ organisations were also present.

Mr Wazir told the EOC officials that he along with his subordinate officials was able in getting vaccinated over 3,000 children of the refusing parents.

The EOC officials appreciated the administration for ensuring coverage of refusal cases and called for showing the same spirit in the forthcoming anti-polio campaign.

The deputy commissioner said his administration planned to hold an awareness session before the commencement of the anti-polio drive to use influence of religious scholars for coverage refusal cases.

The EOC officials also attended a media-orientation session arranged by district polio control room at Tajazai.

Speakers asked mediapersons to play their role in eradication of polio and enhance people’s trust in vaccination. The journalists assured full cooperation in that regard.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019