SWABI: The Awami National Party leaders have demanded of the government to release the joint investigation team’s report about the Sept 28 blasts at the Swabi police station.

The demand was made during a meeting here on Friday.

Around 1200kg explosive material went off at the police station’s godown on Sept 28, killing two people and injuring several.

There followed the formation of a JIT but it has yet not finalised its findings.

During the meeting, ANP leader and former adviser to the chief minister Mukhtar Khan said that the JIT should finish its task without delay.

He said that everyone was keen to know about the reason for those explosions.

Mr Khan claimed that the incident occurred due to an act of terrorism.

He said that it was right of the residents to know why a large number of explosives were kept inside a police station for a long time.

ANP district president Asifur Rehman said that if the JIT members had finished their task, authorities should ensure the early release of the team’s report instead of resorting to excuses.

He hoped that the JIT report would be shared with the people soon.

When contacted, SP (investigation) Iftikhar Ali Khan confirmed that the JIT headed by police officer Rab Nawaz Khan had not finalised its report.

He, however, said that the team would complete its work soon.

COMMUTERS OVERCHARGED: Commuters on Friday complained about overcharging by auto-rickshaw drivers here, blaming it on the inefficiency of the district traffic police and administration.

Arshad Khan, a resident of Swabi city, told reporters that women commuters were regularly overcharged by auto-rickshaw drivers but they didn’t challenge the practice out of fear.

Another resident, Asif Khan, said that the auto-rickshaw fare from Swabi to Gohati was Rs30 but the drivers collected Rs50 each from commuters.

He complained that whenever the rate of CNG or petrol went up, rickshaw drivers were quick to hike the fare, but when those rates were slashed, the benefit was never transferred to commuters.

Traffic police officials urged commuters to report their overcharging by rickshaw drivers for a speedy crackdown.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024