BAJAUR: The arrest of Bajaur Youth Jirga former chairman Wajid Ali Shah by the district administration under the section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) sparked protests here on Tuesday.

Soon after the reports of detention of Mr Shah went viral on social media, workers of political and youth organisations gathered in the Khar Bazaar to protest the arrest.

The protesters, who blocked Bajaur-Peshawar Road for about two hours, condemned the detention of Mr Shah.

Chanting slogans against the district administration, the protesters warned to hold a demonstration in front of deputy commissioner’s office if he was not released till 12pm on Wednesday (today).

Sources in the district administration said Mr Shah was detained for accusing senior officials of the administration of corruption in distribution of free flour.

TRANSFER SOUGHT: Political, social activists and trader leaders on Tuesday called for immediate transfer of district food controller and taking action against some dealers for alleged corruption in distribution free flour in Bajaur.

They made the call at a joint news conference at the conclusion of their protest camp set up outside the Bajaur Press Club against irregularities in the free flour distribution.

Addressing the presser, JUI-F leader and Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah and others claimed documentary evidence and accounts of people showed the district food controller, his subordinate officials and several dealers were involved in selling the free flour to people.

They urged the deputy commissioner to cancel licences of such dealers.

They also demanded transfer of the district food controller.

KIDNAP BID FOILED: The police claimed on Tuesday to have foiled an attempt to kidnap a minor girl by arresting a man, according a statement.

On a tip-off that a nomad couple was trying to kidnap a minor girl in Lowi Baba area, a team led by Khar police station SHO Saidur Rahman immediately went to the locality, foiled the kidnap attempt and arrested one of the kidnappers on the spot.

The statement said a case was registered against the accused, identified as Sher Khan of Peshawar. The police were also looking for his wife, who fled from the scene.

Residents said the accused was first held by a group of villagers, and later handed over to the police.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2023