MANSEHRA: People on Tuesday protested illegal mining in the Jaga Bala area of Oghi tehsil.

“Police intervened and halted the illegal mining activities but all excavations in the area should remain suspended until authorities determine ownership of the mines,” former nazim Zarbad Shah told protesters.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters complained that illegal mining in the area had deprived residents of employment and royalty.

Mr Shah said the area was rich in granite and other precious minerals but their benefits were denied to the residents.

Local police halt excavations

He said illegal excavations were under way in reserved and guzara forests and on the lands owned by locals.

“Such unlawful activities should come to an end immediately with culprits taken to justice,” he said.

The former nazim warned that illegal mining could cause a law and order situation in the area.

He urged police and revenue and mineral departments to determine the ownership of lands from where those minerals were excavated.

Mr Shah said some people acquired a piece of land to dig out granite before illegally expanding the extraction activity to the neighbouring areas.

Meanwhile, the police said the mining of granite and other minerals would remain suspended in the area until a team comprising their officials and the representatives of the revenue and mineral departments would determine the rightful owners of mines and lands.

ARREST DEMANDED: A jirga in Judbah area of Torghar district on Tuesday demanded the early arrest of the killers of a resident.

“We all seek the intervention of inspector general of police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur for the early arrest and trial of the killers of Mohammad Amin,” elder Farmanullah Khan told the jirga.

The jirga was attended by elders of various villages.

Participant Asghar Khan said Mr Amin was brutally killed before his body was dumped in the Domail forests on June 28.

He said the deceased’s elderly mother approached the police but the killers were still untraced.

The jirga members later met superintendent police (investigation) Shahnawaz Khan, deputy superintendent of police Mohammad Asif and SHO Saqib Faraz and demanded immediate arrest of Amin’s killers.

The SP said the police had started an investigation and would soon share its details with the family.

Meanwhile, journalists on Tuesday paid tribute to former patron-in-chief of the press club Babu Fazlur Rehman Awan for his valuable services to the community.

Mr Awan succumbed to the injuries he suffered last week after falling down the stairs in his house in the Channia area.

People from all walks of life attended his funeral. He was the father of local journalist Mukhtar Ali Awan.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024