KOHAT, Sept 21: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to sell 58,225 acres of land in Jarma area of Kohat to its present occupants living illegally there since 1970 and the formal notification in this regard will be issued soon, said MPA Iqbal Din Fana while speaking at a public meeting at Jarma village here on Wednesday.

The MPA, who is also chairman of district development advisory committee, Kohat, said that he had contested the 2008 elections despite the boycott by his Jamaat-i-Islami party to resolve the problems of people of his PF-39 constituency.

He said that getting the land ownership rights for the people of Jarma was on his priority list, as the people had convinced him on contesting the polls for raising voice for their rights.

The land was first leased out by the British rulers to the local Banoori family in 1886 and then the lease was renewed several times for agriculture purpose between 1953 and 1973. However, since 1973 the lease had not been renewed by any government.

Mr Fana said that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had informed him that the Jarma land would be distributed among the local residents soon. The committee earlier formed by the present government to resolve the issue had submitted its report to the chief minister for allotment of the government land at the price between Rs100,000 and Rs110,000 per Jareeb (four kanals).

There are about 10,000 occupants who have constructed houses on the agricultural government land in the Jarma village. A large population of tribesmen from Orakzai Agency and other parts of the region are also residing there.

Former nazim of union council Jarma, Dr Tehseen, Haji Shah Wali and Maulana Mohammad Kamal also attended the public meeting.

TWO SHOT DEAD:

Two people were killed in two different incidents here on Wednesday.

According to Cantonment police, Muzaffar Khan alias Shino opened firing on Nusrat Shah, resident of Kaghazai, and his son Mujahid near the Kohat springs. As a result, Mr Shah died on the spot while his son was injured, who later recorded his statement in hospital for the registration of FIR against Shino.

In another incident in the jurisdiction of Gumbat police station, Fazal Khaliq, Imran, Ibrar and Said Wazir allegedly gunned down Safdar Hassan and fled away. The Gumbat police have registered the report against the accused on the complaint of Mir Hassan, father of the victim.

PASSING OUT:

Deputy Inspector General of Police (inspection), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Abdul Hanif Orakzai has asked the newly-inducted policemen to serve the people with dedication.

Speaking at the passing out ceremony of policemen of different courses at the Police Training College, Hangu, Mr Orakzai said that the courses would be reviewed to accommodate suggestions of the policemen for the betterment of the force.

He also awarded prizes to the policemen who showed better performance during their training.