LANDI KOTAL, Dec 1: Officials of the Khyber Agency political administration in Landi Kotal and the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited failed to reach an agreement regarding the restoration of telephone lines to the offices of assistant political agent and political Tehsildar of Landi Kotal.

Telephone lines of the two officials were disconnected on Nov 21 for non-payment of monthly bills. Telephone authorities in Landi Kotal told Dawn that Rs1.8 million were due against the two offices of the political administration.

Repeated reminders were sent to the administration but no heed was paid to these, a telephone exchange official said, adding that at last they had to disconnect three official telephones.

It was only after the disconnection of their telephones that the political authorities rushed to the PTCL general manager office in Peshawar with a request that they would pay their bills in instalments.

Meanwhile, an assistant at the APA office confessed to turning a blind eye to the PTCL reminders, resulting in disconnection. It is also alleged that these official lines were grossly misused.

ANTIQUES SEIZED: The Khyber Agency political administration seized a large quantity of antiques at the Pakistan-Afghan border of Torkhum on Saturday.