SWABI: The Islahi Jirga Swabi has demanded construction of long-awaited bypass road in the district headquarters to help end frequent traffic jams.

The demand was made at the monthly meeting of the jirga chaired by its president Asad Ali.

The participants said the traffic police were unable to regulate the vehicular traffic on the roads in the district headquarters.

On the occasion, Mr Ali said the roads could not absorb the increasing number of vehicles, and frequent road accidents had caused death of many people. “We unanimously demand the construction of Swabi bypass road, which has been long-awaited project announced by the provincial government,” he said.

COCKFIGHTS RAMPANT IN SWABI: Police are unable to take action against the people involved in the menace of cockfights.

Like the dogfight, cockfight is also very famous in the district and the cocks are usually kept by members of affluent families. The fighting cocks are openly sold in the fairs at high prices.

There are a number of areas where cockfights are held, as people along with their cocks gather at a particular place within no time after the fight is announced.

From announcement of the cockfight to holding it is kept so secrete that police get to know about it when it has already been held.

The people involved in cockfights said that their honour was linked with the outcome of the fight. They said it was sort of a gambling and they decided before the fight that how much the loser would pay to the winner.

The areas where the cockfights take place frequently are Zaida, Kotha, Maneri, Yar Hussain, Charbagh, Kalu Khan and Tordher.

When contacted, Shahzad Khan, SHO Topi police station, said a few days ago they had arrested some people at Kotha village when they were busy fighting the roosters.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020