MARDAN, June 2 An MPA from Buner, belonging to the Awami National Party, has refuted a claim of Interior Minister Rehman Malik about clearing Buner from Taliban and claimed that most parts of the district are in the control of militants.

Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, MPA Syed Rahim claimed that there was no writ of the government in Buner. He said almost all institutions, including educational and health, were closed and there were no officials available in the district.

He claimed that the area was controlled by Taliban and asked the residents of Buner not to return to their homes till the government's writ was established there.

Saeed Bacha, another resident of Buner residing in Mardan, said he visited the Sowarey area of Buner on Tuesday, which looked like a ghost town. He said only two or three shops were open in the town. He said only one doctor and two nurses were available in the local hospital.

He claimed that Pir Baba, Bajkata, Deevana Baba, Katkala, Elai, Anghapur, Torosak areas of the Buner district were in complete control of the Taliban.

MEDICAL COLLEGE Project director of Bacha Khan Medical College Dr Ziaul Islam has said the provincial government has released funds for the college and classes will be started in November. He was briefing a meeting on the occasion of revival of the Friends of Mardan Medical Complex here on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by local MPA, philanthropists and social workers of Mardan.