SWABI: Traders of Zaida area here on Tuesday staged a protest demonstration against frequent power outages.

They gathered in Zadia Bazaar and marched through the market while chanting slogans against Peshawar Electric Supply Company and demanding halt to unscheduled power outages.

The protesters claimed the Pesco staff did not attend their phone calls to register their complaints about outages.

Anjuman-i-Tajiran president Abdul Sattar said that the Pesco officials had failed to fulfil their pledges about ending the unscheduled loadshedding, which forced them to stage a protest.

Later, on assurance of local officials that their problem would be resolved the traders dispersed peacefully.

Meanwhile, senior lawyers of Islamabad and Balochistan visited the Swabi Judicial Complex on Tuesday and exchanged views with the judges and members of Swabi Bar Association.

A few judges of Maldives were also part of the delegation. District and sessions judge Rozina Rehman briefed the visiting judges about the Pukhtun culture and history of Swabi district.

ROBBERS HELD: Police here on Tuesday arrested a gang of robbers who had been allegedly looting passengers on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway.

Chota Lahor tehsil DSP Taj Mohammad Khan told mediapersons that of the three arrested robbers one was an Afghan national who lived in Kunda village near the motorway.

He said that a week ago a case was registered with the police by one Wahid Murad, saying he was deprived of Rs50,000 cash and other valuables at gunpoint by masked robbers on motorway.

The DSP said the police arrested them after tracing their mobiles. He said that the cash had been recovered from the gang members, including an Afghan national Nasir Khan, Akbar Khan of Lower Dir and Obaidullah of Swabi.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS: A gathering was organised by Peoples Action Group for Education (Page), Swabi, for distribution of free schoolbags and uniform among orphan students in Topi tehsil on Tuesday.

Assistant commissioner Mehran Khan was the chief guest at the gathering attended by officials of education department and teachers.

Mr Mehan said the society should support such students so they could continue their education.

Abdul Wahad, sub-divisional education officer, said that orphan students in other areas of the district should also be given uniform and bags in the next phase.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2020