MANSEHRA: The people of Chitta Batta area here took to the streets against the prolonged and unscheduled power outages.

The protesters torched old tyres on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and blocked it for half an hour suspending traffic.

They shouted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company and demanded an immediate end to power cuts.

The protesters warned that the Pesco would block the artery for an indefinite period if prolonged power outages didn’t stop.

INSPECTION: The anti-corruption establishment has begun examining development work done by civil agencies here, saying the exercise is meant to check the alleged irregularities, including embezzlement of funds.

An official of the district ACE told reporters here on Thursday that a team had been carrying out visits across the district to conduct physical examination of the infrastructure and other development projects executed by the communication and works department, other government departments and agencies, and tehsil municipal administrations in Mansehra, Balakot, Oghi, Darband and Baffa-Pakhal.

He said the people had complained to the anti-graft organisation about alleged embezzlement of funds and other anomalies in development projects executed during the last local government system.

The official said the ACE’s team was meeting complainants to collect evidence of the alleged irregularities by officials and contractors.

Meanwhile, former provincial minister Ibrar Hussain Tanoli on Thursday announced that he and his son, Safeer Abrar Tanoli, would contest by-elections in the PK-33 and PK-33 constituencies respectively following the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

“I, along with my son, will contest by-polls for two provincial assembly seats as the nominees of the Qaumi Watan Party,” Mr Tanoli told reporters in Oghi after holding a meeting with his supporters.

Mr Tanoli said he was the first lawmaker from Tanawal and worked for people’s development.

He said his son had joined politics to protect the youth’s rights.

The former minister said he and his son would carry out mega development projects after election to the assembly.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023