MANSEHRA, Jan 2: A local court has granted a stay against construction contracts awarded by the irrigation department here last month after government contractors pointed out violation of rules in the process.

“The chief engineer of irrigation department, Hazara, had secretly allotted contracts to his blue-eyed people without fulfilling legal formalities and the allotment criteria,” said Kamran Riaz, a contractor, while speaking to media persons here on Wednesday.

Accompanied by other contractors, including Babu Khanzada, Naeem Khan and Ijaz Khan, Mr Riaz said that they moved the court of district and sessions judge against violation of rules and got a stay against the award of contracts in irrigation department.

“Contracts of 69 schemes of constructing embankment, check walls and others worth over Rs700 million are allotted to so-called contractors secretly after expiry of dates of tender,” said Mr Khanzada.

He said that the process of tender was cancelled on its first scheduled and advertised date on Dec 6, then on Dec 22 and finally on Dec 25 by chief engineer without giving any reason.

Mr Riaz said that when the chief engineer refused to listen to them despite their protest against his unlawful act they moved the court for justice.

CHARAS SEIZED: Police have seized 25 kilogrammes of charas and arrested an accused here on Wednesday.

Police said that they intercepted a vehicle near Ghazikot and recovered 25 kg of charas hidden in it. They also arrested the accused, Mohammad Sharafat, a resident of Abbottabad.