SHANGLA: The elders here have demanded of the government to ensure that the local people are given jobs and other rights in Karora hydropower project, which is likely to be completed in next few months.

Local elders of the district, particularly those of Kana and Alpuri tehsils, have announced to hold a jirga on January 25 for seeking rights from the government in the under-construction 11.80MW Karora hydropower project. The demands include jobs, royalty and cheap electricity for the local community.

Gulab Shahpuri, Asghar Khan, Sarfraz Khan and other elders from different tehsils of Shangla told mediapersons here the other day that they had called a jirga meeting on Jan 25 in Karora to finalise their charter of demands.

The power project is being built in Karora area of Alpuri tehsil.

Mr Shahpuri recalled that then deputy commissioner had signed an agreement with the residents in 2017 under which the local community would be provided with cheap electricity while the local youth would be given jobs in the power project.

He said they now wanted implementation of the agreement as 95 per cent of the project had been completed.

KILLED: Two persons were killed in separate incidents here on Wednesday.

Dandai police SHO Habib Shah said a jirga was in progress at Maira area of Bisham to settle a land dispute when a member of one group took out a pistol and shot dead a 12-year-old boy.

He said the dispute between two groups was continuing for last about a year.

He said the elders had gathered to settle the dispute when another tragic incident happened and Mian Zeb, 12, was killed.

He said the police had lodged an FIR under sections 302 and 324 of the PPC against the accused, including Sher Mohammad.

In another incident, a cab driver, identified as Mehboob Ali of Serai Karora, died when his car fell into a ravine at Banar Khwargai area here on Wednesday.

Karora police SHO Bakht Zahir said the car was returning after dropping passengers in Alpuri when the driver lost control and it fell into a ravine.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2021