BAJAUR: Traders in Inayat Kallay Bazaar here on Monday held a protest sit-in against the Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) for disconnecting power supply to the bazaar.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the power company, the protesters shouted slogans against the power firm for disconnecting electricity supply to the bazaar two weeks ago to force the traders to install power meters at their shops.

All Bajaur traders’ association president Mohammad Hameed, Inayat Kallay traders’ association president Imran Mahir and others spoke on the occasion, and slammed the Tesco officials for disconnecting the electricity supply without any prior notice.

They said under an agreement signed with the traders’ bodies, the Tesco was bound to take traders into confidence prior to installing electricity meters in any trade centre of the district.

The traders rejected the Tesco officials’ claim that the business community was using electricity for free, adding the traders were regularly paying the charges as per the Tesco policy.

The protesters pointed out that according to the 25th Constitutional Amendment, which was made in 2018, the tribal districts were to be exempted from all taxes and electricity charges for five years.

The protesters also lashed out at the local lawmakers for not taking up the matter with Tesco.

The traders ended the protest after a team of district administration officials assured them to restore the electricity supply to the bazaar within two days.

MAN HELD WITH DRUGS: The police on Monday arrested a man and seized narcotics from him.

District police officer Abdul Samad Khan told reporters that narcotics were recovered from a car in Shah Rana area of Salarzai tehsil.

He said a police team led by SHO Salarzai police station Saidur Rahman stopped a car, and seized 52 kilogrammes of opium and 19 kilogrammes of hashish from the secret places of the vehicle. He said the drug dealer identified as Jan Wali, a resident of Salarzai, was also arrested.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2022