KOHAT: Oil supply from Kohat, Hangu and Karak districts remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day on Friday as a lawmakers-led jirga continued a sit-in at Lachi tehsil here.

The protest continued even as the government formed a second committee during the day after the jirga rejected the earlier one headed by MNA Shahid Khattak from Karak.

The fresh committee comprises the law minister, the finance minister and the secretary, home minister and heads of all oil companies.

MPA Shahdad Khan, who was present at the sit-in, told Dawn that the jirga members had been asked to reach Peshawar for holding negotiations with the new body. He, however, said the protest would continue till the acceptance of their demands.

Protesters block oil supply for fifth day

Hundreds of oil tankers were stranded on Karak-Kohat and Hangu-Kohat roads as all supplies passed through Kohat.

The jirga has been demanding acceptance of a 14-point charter of demands presented to the oil and gas companies.

Last year, when the jirga blocked oil supplies it was asked to end the strike on the promise to meet all their demands.

Former MNA Aisha Gulalai also addressed the jirga and assured it that she would support them at every forum.

The jirga members demanded job quota for locals, gas supply to neglected areas, provision of health, water facilities, redressal of serious environmental issues, construction of schools and colleges, and a start of a water supply scheme from Indus for Shakardarra, the only area in Kohat abundant in oil and gas.

Jirga chairman MPA Mian Nisar Gul said they had been befooled for a long time and forced to block oil supplies to Punjab and other parts.

ARMS SMUGGLER HELD: The police seized a big quantity of weapons and ammunition on the Indus Highway and arrested a member of an inter-provincial smugglers’ network.

During snap checking, a suspicious car was stopped, and 35 pistols, a Kalashnikov, 4,000 cartridges and 36 chargers were recovered.

The smuggler, Ikramullah of Lakki Mwrat, admitted that he was trying to smuggle the weapons to southern districts.

The Saddar police registered a case against him.

CALL TO DEVELOP ORAKZAI AS TOURIST SPOT: President of Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Rasheed Paracha has demanded of the government to develop the Orakzai tribal district as a tourist spot and exploit its minerals wealth to generate employment and earn the much-needed revenue.

During a visit to the district, he said Orakzai and Kurram districts were abundant with natural beauty, minerals, precious stones, fruits, beans and pine nut.

He regretted that the government spent billions of rupees on import of beans whereas the delicious commodity of Kurram had not been paid any attention. Similarly, he said the areas produced apple, peach, peanut and apricot in abundance, and exploitation of the resources could generate employment for the locals as peace had returned to the areas.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020