KOHAT, March 2:  An official of the education department, who was arrested red-handed while taking bribe from a contractor in the presence of a magistrate, was put behind bars on Friday.

The circle in-charge of the anti-corruption department Sattar Khattak told Dawn on telephone on Friday that a contractor, Mir Waez, resident of Zhob Balochistan, registered a complaint against the assistant district education officer Mohammad Arshad Shareef, saying Mr Shareef demanded Rs20,000 from him for issuing satisfaction certificate about a building, which was constructed by the communication and works department and handed over to the education department.

The complainant said he had to get the OK report to get his security money back.

The anti-corruption staff marked the notes and sent the contractor to pay the bribe to the said official in his office in KDA Town.

In the meantime, the magistrate-II Amanullah and circle officer of anti-corruption conducted raid and arrested Mr Shareef while taking bribe.

A case was registered against the official. The accused has been put inside the lock-up of the Jungle Khel police.

OUTLAWS HELD: The police have arrested 44 outlaws during a drive against anti-social elements and seized weapons from them.

The District Police Officer Mubarek Zeb, in a statement on Friday said the police carried out operation along the tribal belt and various villages in Kohat. During the drive 44 outlaws were held. The seized weapons included four Kalashnikovs, seven rifles, nine shotguns, 15 pistols and thousands of cartridges. Investigations were underway to ascertain the claim of some of the accused that their weapons were licensed.