LAKKI MARWAT: Former district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel has rejected the provincial minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan’s proposal to rename the Lakki Marwat district, saying the name was symbol of their identity.

Speaking at a press conference in Lakki city on Monday, he claimed that during his speech in the provincial assembly the minister had given weak historical references regarding naming of Lakki after a Hindu which was not true.

“Why the area is called Lakki is that 100,000 Marwat tribesmen had formed a lashkar (militia) three or four centuries ago to protect their soil from invaders,’’ he claimed, adding Lakki was the distorted shape of word ‘lakh’ and the tribes adopted it centuries ago because it reflected their bravery, honour and combating qualities.

Mr Meenakhel said the minister had no right to take the decision on his own to change the name of the district, and asked him not to play with the sentiments of people.

ARRESTED: The police claimed to have arrested two people, including a runaway prisoner of Bannu jail, during surprise raids on Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, Serai Gambila police raided a hideout in Kotka Misal Khan village and arrested Faizullah,” said an official, adding the man had escaped Bannu prison during a militant attack in April 2012.

He said the same police arrested a man identified as Wali Rehman in Khankhel Mondozai locality and seized an assault rifle and bullets from him.

Meanwhile, a man was killed and at least 10 others were wounded in road accidents during the Eid days.

Rescue and hospital sources said a young man, Aqibullah, lost his life in a road accident near Sarai Gambila. His body was shifted to hospital.

Two persons were injured when the motorcycle they were riding skidded off the road near Manjiwala Chowk. The injured were taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Naurang.

Two more motorcyclists were injured in an accident near Dallokhel Phattak on the Lakki-Tajazai Road. A rickshaw overturned due to over speeding near Gandi Chowk on the Bannu-DI Khan Road, injuring two people, including a minor boy.

Two people were wounded when a car and a motorcycle collided near Wanda Sattarkhel on the Lakki-Tajazai Road.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2020