MANSEHRA: Police claimed to have arrested a schoolteacher here for harassing and blackmailing female students.

“A blackmail victim’s brother approached the police with objectionable video clips made by the teacher in a classroom of the Government High School Chandor, so I formed an investigation team headed by the senior superintendent of

police that led to the teacher’s arrest,” DPO Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters here on Thursday.

He quoted the complainant as claiming that the suspect had warned if schoolgirls reported him to the police, he would upload those clips on social media platforms.

The DPO said the accused had been involved in such criminal activities for the last two years.

“We are also investigating whether the teacher acted alone or more people are involved in the act,” he said.

Mr Gandapur said the police had seized video clips and other material before sending them to the lab for forensic examination.

He said the accused had been booked under sections 376 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 53 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010.

“I urge people to report such incidents to protect their children’s lives,” he said.

DBA POLLS: Former member of Judicial Commission of Pakistan Shahjehan Khan Swati on Thursday announced he would contest the upcoming election for the president of the Mansehra District Bar Association.

“Lawyers have persuaded me to contest the bar’s presidential election, and I have no reason to decline their goodwill gesture,” Mr Swati told reporters.

Mr Swati, who has also served as the president of the same association and a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council multiple times, said the Mansehra District Bar Association had rich traditions and he would work hard to uphold it.

He will be contesting against Fahad Habib Tanoli Advocate for the office of president in the District Bar Association elections scheduled for April 6 this year.

Meanwhile, Majid Khan Advocate will compete against Mohammad Qasim for the office of general secretary.

A seven-member election committee, headed by Mohammad Ayaz Khan advocate, has been formed to organise and oversee the electoral process.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2025