LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Aug 4: Unidentified tribesmen partially demolished a picket established by the Khyber Rifles in Charwazgai on Wednesday night.

However, personnel of the paramilitary force started rebuilding the demolished part of the picket on Thursday.

A few days ago, the Khyber Rifles started construction of the picket to which the local residents are objecting on the grounds that the place is frequently visited by their women.

Activists of some political parties are also opposing the construction of the picket.

A Jamaat-i-Islami activist, Abdur Rauf, said that the 99-year lease of army-controlled land in Landi Kotal had long been expired and, therefore, the establishment of the picket was unlawful.

Earlier, the local tribesmen started construction of a shade for women at the disputed place but the work was abandoned after the tribal elders held meetings with the officials of the political administration and the commandant of the Khyber Rifles.

In the meetings, the elders demanded renewal of the lease before construction of the picket or any other installations.

Maj Shahid Nawaz of the Khyber Rifles told Dawn that the construction of the picket was part of their plan to develop the area as local and foreign passed from there while going to an army camp from a nearby helipad.

He said that the picket was being constructed outside the army camp.

As regards the expiry of the lease, army officials stationed at Landi Kotal camp argued that the lease period of the land occupied by the army and the Frontier Constabulary had not expired and they had documentary proofs to this effect.