MANSEHRA: Adviser to the chief minster on culture and tourism Zahid Chanzeb has directed the district police officer to ensure merit in the recruitment process.

“I paid a surprise visit to the police lines here and found some discrepancies in the ongoing appointment process and security arrangements,” according to a statement issued by Mr Chanzeb’s media wing here on Sunday.

The statement further said Mr Chanzeb paid a surprise visit to the police lines to oversee the recruitment of police personnel being carried out by the Education and Testing Evaluation Agency (Etea).

“We would not compromise on merit in the recruitment process, particularly in the police department, which is the backbone of our security set-up and is at the forefront in the war against militancy in the province,” the statement quoted Mr Chanzeb as saying.

The CM aide also addressed hundreds of candidates. He said the PTI-led provincial government wanted to ensure merit in all sectors, particularly in the police force.

Meanwhile, DPO Shafeeullah Gandapur in pursuance of the CM aide’s order visited the police lines and reviewed security arrangements there.

DEMAND: Residents of Pulrah and its adjoining localities have demanded of the government to clear roads blocked by landsides triggered by heavy rains in recent weeks.

“We have been suffering the brunt due to the blockade of Pulrah-Kunder and other roads, but the district administration and communication and works department are yet to clear the arteries,” BukhtiarTanoli, a resident, told reports on Sunday.

Led by Mr Tanoli a group of locals said if the district administration and communication and works department didn’t clear landslides on roads in Pulrah and its suburban parts of Tanawal they would block the Lassan Nawab-Mansehra Road.

Mr Tanoli said owing to the blockade of roads patients couldn’t be shifted to health facilities in Mansehra and rest of the Hazara division.

He said locals had visited the offices of the chief engineer communication and works department in Mansehra, but he mostly remained off duty. “A housing colony has also encroached upon the Mansehra-Pulrah Road in Chanja and Katara areas resulting in traffic congestion during rains,” Mr Tanoli said.

Resident Shams Rehman said they met the deputy commissioner and apprised him of their ordeal due to blockade of roads. “A revenue department team visited Pulrah last week and submitted its damage assessment report to the deputy Commissioner, but the roads are still not cleared to traffic,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024