KOHAT, Jan 5: The deputy inspector-general of police for Kohat region, Zulfiqar Cheema, summoned the regional manager of the Utility Stores Corporation to his office on Friday and asked him to take notice of the growing complaints of black marketing of wheat flour and other items.

He also told him that in case the police found any discrepancy in the distribution of flour they would register corruption cases against managers of the Utility Stores and take them to task as per the law.

He asked the official to ensure smooth distribution of flour to all areas of the Kohat district where people, including women, had to stand in long queues for hours, sometimes for days, to buy the commodity.

The DIG also phoned the Pesco chief, Brig (retd) Sakhi Marjan, and discussed with him the problem of unannounced loadshedding in the region, which includes the Kohat, Karak and Hangu districts. He informed him that long durations of loadshedding were creating a law and order situation in the area.

Residents during different protests here on Thursday had threatened to attack and burn Utility Stores and grid stations if there demands were not met soon. A press release said that the chief of Pesco had promised that the durations of loadshedding would be reduced in view of the security concerns of the area.