SWABI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial visited Swabi on Saturday to participate in a walima reception of the daughter of a Supreme Court employee.

When contacted, district police officer Najamul Hussain told Dawn that walima ceremony took place at a wedding hall in Panjpir area on the Swabi-Jehangira Road.

He said the police were on high alert during the CJP’s visit and the wedding hall was kept under tight watch till his departure for Islamabad.

Officials in the district administration said the CJP remained at the wedding hall for about 35 minutes.

The security officials and the district administration remained tight-lipped about the high-profile visit.

Leaders of political parties, influential persons of various regions, officials of the district administration and local people also attended the walima.

HYDEL PROFIT: Adviser to the caretaker chief minister on food Syed Sheraz Akram Bacha has asked the federal government to pay the outstanding amount of net hydel profit and share of the 7th National Finance Commission award to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He stated this while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected cabinet of the Swabi District Bar Association on Saturday.

On this occasion, Sheraz Bacha said the federal government owed KP Rs68 billion net hydel profit. He added the KP was to get Rs24 billion under the 7th NFC award.

He said the KP government was facing serious financial crisis and it didn’t even have money to pay salaries of its employees. He said despite all the difficulties, the government was making serious efforts to get out of financial difficulties and serve the people.

Mr Bacha, who is also a leading industrialist, said role of the lawyers’ fraternity in strengthening democracy was critical.

Newly-elected president of DBA Mian Faheem Akbar also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the CM’s adviser administered oath to the bar’s cabinet.

DROWNS: A 15-year-old boy drowned in the Indus River while bathing with his friends in Hund village on Saturday, Rescue 1122 officials said.

They said a team had started search for recovery of the body. The deceased was identified as Masroor Khan of Maneri village.

Meanwhile, a man and a child were killed when two motorcycles collided near Tordher village. The child’s parents were also injured along with another minor.

The police said the deceased were identified as Mohammad, the child, and Hazrat Ali.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2023