DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The second phase of the Derajat Festival 2022 began here on Sunday, featuring 25 traditional, cultural and regional games.
On the first day of the three-day festival, competitions of tent-pegging, bullock and dog races were held at the Rata Kalachi Sports Complex and the Mela ground. Wrestling, kabaddi, weightlifting, javelin throw and horse races were also held. Various stalls have also been set up.
Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, newly-elected Dera city mayor Captain retired Umar Amin Gandapur said that in the first phase of Derajat festival held on March 6, a jeep rally was held, which was a national level event.
He said that a Meena Bazaar would also be held for women in the Town Hall.
Dera assistant commissioner Nadir Shehzad Khan said that measures had been taken to ensure smooth conduct of all the competitions, and provide facilities and entertainment to the spectators.
Meanwhile, two persons were killed and one was injured in separate incidents on Sunday.
A police official said that unidentified assailants shot dead Mohammad Zubair of Mianwali district of Punjab, who was a manager of bus terminal, at the Cantonment General Bus Stand. Rasool Khan, 16, was slightly injured in the firing, the official added.
In another incident, Mushtaq Niazi, 45, a resident of CRBC Chowk, was shot dead by unknown persons near Kachi Paind Khan on the banks of the Indus River.
A few months ago, Ismail Niazi, a brother of the slain Mushtaq Niazi, was also shot dead by unknown persons.
The cantonment police shifted both the bodies to the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Dera, for postmortem.
Later, they registered cases against the suspects.
Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2022
