KOHAT: Children of Jalandhar sub-clan of Zarghunkhel tribe of Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision of Kohat took to the streets on Tuesday against the denial of coal profit to the tribe since 2014.

The children and their mothers alleged that they were expelled from the main tribe and the mining company also refused to pay them profit from coal mining.

They said due to non-payment of profit, education of children had been badly affected as coal mining was the only source of their earning. They appealed to the elders of the area and the district administration to resolve the matter.

LAWMAKERS FLAYED: A senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Daud Afridi has assailed the lawmakers of his own party for their criminal negligence in completing the approved projects or launching any new one during the last one decade.

Speaking at meetings in Darmalak and Mandoori union councils on Tuesday, he said lawmakers had failed to establish an economic zone in Kohat, set up an oil refinery, provide gas and reconstruct the Liaquat Memorial Hospital.

He said the lawmakers also did not raise voice for share of Kohat in oil and gas royalty funds.

PROTEST: A large number of residents of Togh Bala and Payan areas on Tuesday demonstrated against ‘occupation’ of their farms and land properties by the land mafia in connivance with the revenue department officials.

A social worker, Inaam Khan, and a contractor, Ghulam Habib, said the influential land grabbers were now illegally demarcating the boundaries of their collective lands. They said the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already given verdict in their favour, but the injustice continued.

They appealed to the Kohat division commissioner and the deputy commissioner to stop illegal demarcations.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2023