KOHAT: Elders of Chak Maulayan area of Sheikhan here have resented ‘ban’ on sale of their 400 kanals of land.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, elders Malik Ayaz, Malik Haji Ameer and others said first a major chunk of the total 5,500 kanals of land was used for construction of the posh KDA Township. Then, they said they were forced to sell their land at throwaway rates for construction of the Kohat tunnel, Indus Highway and toll plaza.

The elders said they could not sell their land to anyone but to the government under the section 4.

The elders said now only a mountain had been left of the total land, which was used by the tribesmen for grazing cattle. They threatened to protest in case any attempt was made to occupy their remaining land.

TARGETED ACTIONS: The police have finalised a strategy to launch intelligence-based operations to curb attacks on police.

Chairing a high-level meeting here on Tuesday, district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur stressed the need for information sharing between the special branch, the counter-terrorism department and the security branch to effectively curb land and drug mafias, loan sharks, proclaimed offenders, drug peddlers and other criminals.

He directed the police to keep them updated on the people staying in hotels, living on rent, keep watch on recently released prisoners and conduct snap checking.

SP special branch, SP counter-terrorism department, all the sub-divisional police officers, DSP security, SHOs, Rescue 1122 and the bomb disposal squad officials were in attendance.

DESK SET UP: The police have set up an anti-narcotics desk to take proactive measures to cleanse the society of increasing drug menace with community policing.

In a statement on Tuesday, district police officer Shafiullah Gandapur said people knowingly hid the names of relatives and neighbours involved in drug peddling.

He asked the people to report to the desk if they noticed activity of any drug peddler in their area. He said identity of people giving information about drug dealers would be kept secret.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2022