KOHAT: The Gandiali action committee and elders staged a protest demonstration here against the construction of sports complex on their agricultural land and demanded its shifting to the barren area.

A large number of protesters also blocked the Rawalpindi Highway briefly and warned the provincial government and the administration to reverse the decision and stop establishment of the sports complex.

The committee members, including Akhtar Jameel, Abdul Jalil, Mohammad Janan, Rahib Noor and others, said that their forefathers were given the land by the British and it was evident from the revenue record which was available with them.

They made it clear that the land was under cultivation since their forefathers and they would not allow any construction there.

They recalled that their delegation had met with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan who ordered suspension of work on the complex. However, the work on the complex had been started in Gandiali.

They said that if work on the complex was not stopped and it was not shifted to Gumbat tehsil as promised by the government they would be forced to take law into their hands.

VEGETABLE MARKET: A large number of wholesale dealers and shopkeepers of a private fruit and vegetable market here held a protest meeting and urged the provincial government for mediation to resolve the issue of the market closure.

They regretted that the market was for now closed for three months which had affected thousands of workers directly and indirectly related to it.

The president of the market Yousuf Khan, secretary general Abdul Hameed and others said they wanted resolution of the problem through negotiations with the deputy commissioner and tehsil municipal administration.

They said that a mafia of government market was up to close the private market for their vested interests.

POLICE REFORMS: Inspector General of Police Dr Sanaullah Abbasi said here that the cabinet has approved Rs450 million for police reforms in tribal areas for purchasing land for establishment of police stations, vehicles, etc.

He was speaking as chief guest here at the inauguration of attribution of year 2020 to the martyrs. He laid floral wreath at the martyrs’ monument and offered fateha for them.

He said that the heirs and relatives were respectable for them and their welfare was top priority of the police department.

WORKSHOP: Speaking at a training workshop in Government High School No 2 for Boys, Kohat, regional director of Allama Iqbal Open University Amanullah Khan said that their aim was to facilitate the poor girls and boys in the far-flung areas to get education through distant learning.

He said that it was the policy of the university to provide education to the poor, orphans and neglected class of the society.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020