MOHMAND: Residents of Ghalanai, the administrative headquarters of Mohmand district, took to the streets on Friday against a two-week-long water supply disruption and alleged misbehaviour of a government officer with a journalist.

The protest was organised by residents of NC-13 Ghalanai, and Ghalanai Bazaar Union.

The protesters took out a rally from Ghalanai Bazaar to Mohmand Press Club, raising slogans against public health engineering department and calling for immediate transfer of sub-divisional officer Hamid.

The protest follows an incident in which Shakirullah Mohmand, a journalist and member of Mohmand Press Club, was allegedly mistreated by SDO Hamid when he visited the office of PHE department to obtain information regarding the ongoing water crisis.

The protesters expressed outrage over deteriorating performance of the department, particularly regarding the failure of Saro Kally Ghalanai mega water supply scheme.

“The people of Ghalanai and surrounding areas are facing hardships due to suspension of water supply,” said JUI-F district emir Maulana Mohammad Arif Haqqani.

Other speakers, including Hidayat Khan Mohmand, PTI leader Riyasat Khan, Qari Ayaz, Bashir Khan, Shakirullah and Ghalanai Bazaar president Gulab Khan, said public servants were being paid with taxpayers’ money but showed contempt for the public.

They criticised the frequent bursting of pipelines in the Karapa area, which reportedly took up to two weeks to repair, forcing residents to purchase water.

The protesters demanded swift action from the district administration to immediately restore water supply. They also demanded transfer of SDO Hamid from the district.

Meanwhile, Mohmand Press Club convened an emergency meeting, where the participants unanimously condemned the behaviour of the PHE official with the reporter.

The participants resolved to raise the matter with the deputy commissioner, the executive engineer and the secretary of the department, and the provincial minister.

“If our concerns are not addressed, we will be left with no choice but to initiate a series of protests,” said a representative of the press club.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025