KOHAT: The Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision assistant commissioner Aamir Nawaz on Wednesday sealed a coal mine in Old Bazikhel area for not putting in place a mechanism to drain rainwater, thus endangering the lives of workers.

He also reprimanded the managers and contractors of other mines for not taking measures for safety of miners.

Mr Nawaz said many accidents had occurred in the past, claiming hundreds of lives because of lack of precautionary measures at the mines.

Also, assistant commissioner Aamir Nawaz visited the Darra Bazaar and imposed a cumulative fine of Rs36,000 on shopkeepers for poor cleanliness and encroaching upon roadsides.

He also visited the Darra Civil Hospital and the civil dispensary in Zargunkhel area and inspected facilities and availability of medicines there.

On the occasion, the elders complained patients were not given free medicines. Mr Nawaz directed the quarters concerned to make available quality medicines to patients.

Meanwhile, Ehsan Ayaz, the public relations officer of former MPA Ziaullah Bangash, who was taken away from his house the previous night to an unknown place, on Wednesday announced to part ways with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Addressing a press conference here, he said he was kept in confinement for four hours and warned of serious consequences if he didn’t part ways with PTI.

He said he had no intention to join any party.

POWER OUTAGES: The power consumers in Hangu on Wednesday complained about 18 to 20 hours of loadshedding as Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials insisted the outages were carried out in those areas where dues worth billions of rupees were pending and power theft was rampant.

The consumers aired their grievance at a jirga.

Pesco executive engineer Altaf Hussain and sub-divisional officer Javed were also present at the jirga chaired by former senator Hussain Hashmi.

The Pesco officials said consumers would have normal supply if they stopped electricity theft, which was about 70 per cent on some feeders, and cleared the Rs4 billion outstanding dues.

However, an elder Khan Zaman Orakzai pointed out that loadshedding on some feeders lasted for 10 hours instead of the scheduled four hours.

He pointed out the most affected areas were Zargari, Samanaa, Togh Sarai and Thall tehsil. He said the consumers were also subjected to very low voltage.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023