UPPER DIR, June 5: The district administration and forest department have sought cooperation of political leaders in checking deforestation and smuggling of timber.

District Coordination Officer, Riaz Khan Mehsud, while speaking at a meeting of elders and political parties leaders here on Tuesday, said forests were being cut ruthlessly fading beauty of Upper Dir district. He added that timber mafia had been depriving the district of this precious asset, which was then smuggled out of the district showing it as the Afghan timber.

The meeting was attended besides others by MPA Anwar Khan, former district nazim Sahibzada Tariqullah, Awami National Party district president Naveed Anjum Khan, PPP’s Arif Khan and JUI-F’s Inamullah Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Anwar Khan said Afghan timber must be identified from the local wood that was supposedly lying in the bordering areas of Barawal and Hatan Darra, demanding that those involved in smuggling of timber taken from the local forests be awarded severe punishment.

The DCO said the district administration had decided to crack down on timber smugglers and asked the political leaders to cooperate in this regard.

District Forest Officer Hasham Khan informed the meeting that they had been coordinating with Chitral and Lower Dir districts and Bajaur Agency to check timber smuggling.

He said currently 2,200 cases were being tried in different courts on charges of smuggling and illegal transportation of timber but they had been facing problems in checking deforestation due to shortage of staff.

The local political leaders assured the administration of cooperation and suggested several proposals to check the menace.

GIRL KIDNAPPED: A student of government higher secondary school for girls was kidnapped from a village in Dir Town.

The student, who hails from Chitral, lived with her relatives in Girgat village. The girl was appearing in her practical examination on Tuesday, but she was kidnapped.

Police said they had seized the vehicle allegedly used in kidnapping and arrested its driver and several other suspects. SHO Mohammad Ayub said the driver was being interrogated and they would soon reach the culprits.

Sources said the driver in his statement to police said he did not drive the non-custom-paid car when it was used for kidnapping, as a friend had borrowed it from him.

The girl’s relatives registered FIR and nominated the accused in the case. District Police Officer Ihsanullah has directed police to search every nook and corner of the district to recover the female student.

It could not be ascertained as to what led to the girl’s kidnapping as cases of kidnapping for ransom are quite rare in this district.