MANSEHRA: The police department has established 10 checkposts and deployed personnel in Kaghan valley for the safety of tourists.

The development comes following the lifting of pandemic-induced restrictions on tourist activists by the provincial government.

District police officer Asif Bahadur said the checkpost initiative would ensure the safety and facilitation of the visitors to Kaghan valley, both locals and foreigners.

He said the checkposts were established in Mahandri, Kaghan, Pludrian, Naran, Saiful Muluk Lake, Battakundi, Barawai, Bassil, Gittidas and Suki Kinari areas.

The DPO said the police had deployed over 142 personnel, including 20 traffic wardens, for better policing during the tourist season.

He said personnel of the tourism police force would also be deployed in Kaghan valley.

Mr Bahadur asked traffic wardens to welcome tourists in the district courteously and not to fine vehicles used by them without local permits.

He urged visitors to stay away from the Kunhar River to prevent deaths.

ADJOURNED: A local court on Friday adjourned the hearing into a petition against the upcoming press club elections due to the lawyers’ strike.

Judge Imran Ahmad adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday (June 15) asking both petitioners and respondentsto appear before him that day.

A group of journalists led by Akhlaq Ahmad Khan had moved the court seeking cancellation of the Mansehra press club elections scheduled for June 10.

They claimed that they were the lawful office-bearers of the press club, so the new cabinet couldn’t be elected until they held offices.

The election committee’s members led by Dr Zakaria Tariq Khan appeared before the court and submitted their reply to the petition.

Two parallel cabinets at the press club came into being early last year after elections were cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic.

One cabinet relinquished its responsibilities in April this year paving the way for fresh elections. However, the one moved the court against the June 10 elections.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2021