SHANGLA: The students of government primary school Kolalai in Puran tehsil have been awaiting reconstruction of their school building for the last many years.

They have demanded of the government to reconstruct the building of the school. Around 400 students either study under the open sky or sit in the torn out tents, provided to the school by Unicef after 2005 devastating earthquake.

It is the only primary school in the entire Kolalai area.

The building of the school developed cracks in the 2005 earthquake so it was declared dangerous by Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra).

Jamal Khan, a resident of the area, said that the school was consisting of four rooms out of which two were badly damaged in 2005 earthquake due to which students either studied in the open or in the torn out tents in the scorching heat.

He said that 370 students were enrolled in the school but government had not shown any interest in its construction.

He said that most of the residents of the area were living a life below the poverty line.

Fazal Ahad, another local, said they met the local MNA and MPA many times but no step was taken for the reconstruction.

The residents of Kolalai demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to reconstruct the school building on priority basis otherwise they would take to streets.

ARREST: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in a murder case for the last 13 years.

A statement issued by the Shangla police spokesperson, Umar Rehman, said that the proclaimed offender identified as Hakim Ali was arrested in Kuz Kana in Kana tehsil. He said that the arrested person was wanted in a murder case of 2008 by Alpuri police station.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2021