LAKKI MARWAT: Marwat and Bitanni tribesmen demonstrated in Tajori town here on Saturday to demand restoration of peace, provision of gas, early construction of a key road and release of water in the Marwat canal.

Tehreek-i-Lakki Marwat Haqooq, a local rights body, organised the protest.

The participants raised slogans in favour of their demands.

On the occasion, Bakhmal Ahmadzai Jirga chairman Inamullah Khan and others said tribesmen had fought militancy alongside the law enforcement agencies in the past, and had also foiled a bid by terrorists to attack a police post in Bakhmal Ahmadzai area a few days ago.

They said local residents would not allow anyone to use their soil for subversive acts. They deplored the delay in completion of Tajori Road. They demanded provision of gas from the reserves discovered in the Bitanni subdivision, and release of water in the Marwat canal as its rehabilitation had been completed.

KILLED: Three people were killed in separate incidents in Bannu district on Saturday, the police said.

Officials said a worker was killed when he was hit by a roller machine during construction of a road in Mamandkhel area. He was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he died.

Separately, gunmen killed Hamidullah, 16, in Biland Fatimakhel area, the officials said, adding father of the victim, Mohammad Ayaz, told them his family had no enmity with anyone.

They said Shahab Khan, 16, was murdered over an old enmity in Perat Mamakhel area.

They said Gohar Ayub and Khudadad Khan escaped after the murder.

STRUCTURES RAZED: The district administration removed makeshift structures during an anti-encroachment drive in Naurang Bazaar of Lakki on Saturday, an official said.

He said anti-encroachment squad of tehsil municipal administration cleared the roadsides of all illegal structures. He said traders and pushcart vendors had occupied the road to display goods and carry out business activities.

Additional assistant commissioner Gohar Ali supervised the action.

FUNDRAISING: Lakki deputy commissioner Fazal Akbar kicked off a fundraising campaign for the earthquake-hit people of Turkiye and Syria at a meeting held in Tajazai the other day.

An official told the meeting the social welfare department had set up three aid collection camps in the district.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2023