MANSEHRA: A Rescue-1122 team rescued physically-challenged Kohistani language poet, Mohammad Wali Sadiq, from upper Dubair valley on Tuesday after crossing a difficult terrain by foot.

“I had received a message that Mr Sadiq has been stranded in upper Dubair valley since August 25 when the flash flood wreaked havoc in the valley,” Lower Kohistan deputy commissioner Shakeel Ahmad told mediapersons.

He said the poet was without healthcare since the floods hit the valley and destroyed roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Mr Ahmad said he had sent a Rescue-1122 team to shift Mr Sadiq to Pattan. He said the brave members of the team travelled for 12 hours on foot to reach the poet’s residence in Sanagai village and shifted him on their shoulders to the health facility.

Floods had destroyed area roads on Aug 25

Sajid Ali, head of Rescue-1122 in Lower Kohistan, said his team spent two days to shift Mr Sadiq to Pattan, the district headquarters.

“My team held Mr Sadiq, who is completely paralysed, on their shoulders all the way through the difficult mountain terrain to Pattan from Sanagai,” he said.

Mr Sadiq, whose poetry is famous in the three Kohistan districts, thanked the district administration and the Rescue-1122.

“My poetry is an inspiration for youngsters, but I am short of words to narrate what has happened with my native valley due to flood disaster,” he said.

PASSING OUT PARADE: As many as 754 policemen from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa passed out from the police training school here on Tuesday.

“The newly-trained personnel will follow the legacy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police who have rendered great sacrifices to eradicate militancy from the province,” deputy inspector general of police, Hazara range, Mirvais Niaz, told the 42nd passing out parade at the police training school here.

He said that female constables were also posted at the police stations so that women’s complaints could be addressed in a friendly environment. PTC director Malik Ejaz said the personnel had been imparted tough training to deal efficiently with the emerging challenges.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022