KOHAT: The Thall police of Hangu district on Wednesday foiled an attempt to smuggle weapons from Peshawar to the restive Kurram tribal district by arresting an inter-district carrier.

During search of a passenger coach coming from Peshawar to Parachinar, the police opened a drum lying on the vehicle’s rooftop. Upon opening it, they found nine rifles, a Kalashnikov and 15 chargers.

Fazalur Rehman from Masho Khel area of Peshawar was arrested, and a case registered against him.

CHOKED DRAIN: The main drain in Garhi Mawaz Khan, a densely-populated area in the Kohat city, has been choked for years, and requires immediate desiltation by the irrigation department before the monsoon rains.

The local people said the National Disaster Management Authority and the district administration had been issuing flood warnings, but had yet to clear the drains. They said that in 2010 flood water entered the houses and caused millions worth of losses to the people due to the choked drain.

They said despite their repeated requests desilation had not been done for years which was a clear proof of criminal negligence of the irrigation department.

Similarly, another drain called Katha Jhang has not been cleared of garbage for more than two decades, and during rains, water level rises and damages the houses.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2020