LAKKI MARWAT: Residents of Myrakhel town in Bannu district blocked the Bannu-DI Khan Road on Sunday to protest the demolition of structures in the cattle market.

The villagers assembled near the police station building and closed the busy road to vehicular traffic. The protesters raised slogans against the administration, alleging the municipal authorities had declared the market illegal and ordered its demolition.

An official, however, said the cattle market was established on private land where illegal taxes were being collected from traders. He said action was inevitable to stop the illegal activity.

Former MPA Malik Pakhtoonyar, Malik Iqbal Jadoon, Maulana Raqeebaz and other speakers said the municipal authorities had razed the structures at the cattle market owned by local residents during a midnight operation.

They termed the action illegal and said the authorities should first issue notices to the owners and then seal the premises instead of demolishing the structures.

They alleged the administration launched action at the behest of former opposition leader in the provincial assembly, Akram Durrani.

The protesters ended the agitation after additional assistant commissioner Riaz Khan assured them of addressing their concerns.

KILLED: An official of a local cement factory was killed in a firing incident in Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.

They said Abdul Wahab, 26, an assistant manager in the factory located in Darra Pezu, was shot at and injured when he was taking tea at a hotel outside the factory.

The police said the deceased belonged to Multan and his body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Tajazai, for fulfilling medico-legal formalities.

They said they had begun investigation into the case after registration of a case against unknown killer(s).

CENSUS: Bannu division commissioner Perwaiz Sabatkhel has said the successful conduct of the seventh digital census is his administration’s top priority and all available resources will be utilised to complete the national task in a transparent manner.

He was speaking during a meeting attended by officials of the local administration and other departments after assuming charge of his office the other day.

An official informed him that arrangements had already been made for the transparent and error-free conduct of the census.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2023