MANSEHRA, May 18: Shinkiary police booked 10 more landowners of Bakrial for allegedly creating hurdles and threatening officials to stop work on the New Balakot City project.

The Nespak had suspended the ongoing work on roads, streets, hospitals and schools last week when dozens of landowners of the Bakrial area allegedly forced the Nespak to stop work.

Following the threat, police had registered cases against six persons instantly who were sent to jail on judicial remand. However, the police on Sunday registered cases against more landowners.

SURVIVORS DEMAND: The earthquake survivors of Balakot have demanded of the federal government to continue the policies of the previous government in the affected areas of the NWFP.

This demand came during a public meeting held in Balakot on Sunday under the aegis of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) to press the PPP-led coalition government to continue policies of the PML-Q government. Survivors from the 12 union councils of the tehsil participated in the meeting.

“President Pervez Musharraf and PML-Q government did their best for the rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure in the affected areas,” said one of the speakers.

Among others, District Nazim Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, former opposition leader in the NFFP Assembly Shazada Gustasib Khan, former federal minister Syed Qasim Shah, MPA Wajeeuzzaman Khan, former MPA Mazhar Qasim and tehsil nazim Balakot Syed Junaid Qasim spoke on the occasion.

They denounced the alleged interference of a provincial minister in the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation projects worth billions of rupees in the affected areas.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...