KOHAT, March 14: Provincial vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Malik Asad has regretted that Awami National Party lawmakers didn’t think about development of Kohat, especially its remote areas, over the last four years though their party was in power.

Addressing a public meeting in Shakardarra area here the other day, Mr Asad criticised ANP and PPP for failing to build schools and hospitals and generate jobs for youth in the district mostly inhabited by poor people.

He said only his leader Nawaz Sharif was capable of bringing about economic revolution in the country.

The PML-N leader said he would withdraw his National Assembly candidature if anyone from Pakistan People’s Party guaranteed development of Kohat neglected by successive governments.

He demanded early resumption of work on Shakardara-Gurguri Road.

Also in the day, Kohat police arrested 24 outlaws, including a drug peddler, during an operation in areas along Orakzai Agency, Darra Adamkhel and Kohat-Rawalpindi Road.

Two small machineguns, nine rifles, seven shotguns, eight pistols and hundreds of cartridges were also seized.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Ideological group) demanded that all political parties present their manifestos and strategies in writing before the people ahead of the next elections.

In a statement, district chief of JUI-I Peer Niaz Ali Shah criticised ruling party lawmakers for failing to keep their election promises of the people’s socioeconomic welfare.

“They befooled people to get votes. They have forgotten people after being elected to assemblies and are protecting serving own interests,” he said.

Mr Shah said no party except for JUI-I had a workable solution to corruption, inflation and loadshedding.

He urged the Election Commission to ensure that every candidate submit complete details of his/her assets before contesting elections.

He demanded a considerable reduction in the lawmakers’ perks and privileges and that they role be restricted to legislation.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) arrested 10 people for power theft in Jarma area.

Sub-divisional officer of Pesco Fidaullah Mesud told Dawn that the crackdown on power thieves was supervised by Kohat XEN Javed Iqbal and carried out on the directives of Pesco chief.

He urged people to inform Pesco about power theft, saying this will help the company curtail its losses.