KOHAT: The elders of Junglekhel have demanded monthly payment for their land given to the Ghamkol Afghan refugee camp by the Afghan commissionerate since 1980.

Speaking at an open court held by deputy commissioner Matiullah Khan, they asked for ban on the sale and purchase of collective property, opening of sealed private fruit and vegetable market, provision of potable water and irrigation canals and end to excessive power outages.

They also demanded construction of overhead bridges at important squares, end to land grabbing, removal of encroachments over drains, buildings for educational institutions, facilities against taxes imposed by TMA, jobs for the youth and rehabilitation of drug addicts.

They said that the refugees were selling their land to IDPs from Orakzai district before leaving for Afghanistan which should be stopped.

The elders included Javed Shinwari, Mohammad Ishaq, Tai Khan and others. Officials of Pesco, TMA, Water Supply and Sanitation Company and other departments were also present on the occasion.

The deputy commissioner sought some time to resolve problems of the residents, saying that the issues required approval from the higher authorities and allocation of budget.

He assured that section 144 would be enforced till vacation of grabbed land and distribution of collective land. He said it was priority of the administration to resume business at the closed fruit and vegetable market in the light of laws.

VOTER REGISTRATION: The district election commissioner of Orakzai tribal district chairing a voters’ education committee in Hangu has said that registration, correction and objection forms will be available in the compound of the deputy commissioner, Hangu, till Dec 10, 2019.

He said the voters’ lists would be placed at the 148 centres for inspection in the nearest government schools so that people could check details about their families.

The official, Fareed Ullah Khattak, stressed that door-to-door campaign would be launched from Dec 5 to enrol maximum number of women voters.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2019