‘Tahafuz Huqooq-e-Marwat’ worries politicians in Lakki Marwat

Barkatullah Marwat

PESHAWAR: A new political party ‘Tahafuz Huqooq-e-Marwat’, which has emerged in Abbashaheedkhel area, has become worrisome to political parties in Lakki Marwat district.

Abbashaheedkhel region comprises the three villages of Dallokhel, Abbakhel and Matora. Some other villages including Wanda Kalin and Zerhan have also joined hands with the elders of the abovementioned three villages in their campaign.

The elders, who have formed the ‘Tahafuz-e-Huqooq Marwat’, want to field their own candidates in the upcoming elections to fight for their rights.

For this purpose, they held a series of meetings so far and another meeting was held at Dallokhel village on Friday where over 6,000 people of these villages were present.

They formed a committee comprising 70 members and also another think-tank consisting of 15-20 members to deal with the election process and finally they would set up a four-member committee with a responsibility of holding negotiations with the candidates of other political parties if they approached them.

The committee would unanimously nominate their joint candidates in near future to contest the election from PK-76 and NA-27.

The total votes of the Abbashaheedkhel is said to be over 27,000 and they are of the view that the votes, if polled in favour of their own candidates, could ensure their win on both the seats.

It was learnt that they are thinking over ban on the entry of local politicians to the villages. “For how long we will be puppets in the hands of these politicians?” asked a villager.

They said the Saifullah brothers played their role in shifting the site (which has become controversial) for the construction of the Lakki Cadet College to a far-flung area near Punjab boundary instead of building it near the District Headquarters.

“Isn’t it surprising that the district headquarters was built by Saifullah brothers in the 90’s and now when it came to the cadet college, it is being shifted away from the district headquarters,” asked another villager.

The site is being shifted to please a single person, namely Aslam Khan Isakkhel, who has donated about 1000 kanals piece of land for the cadet college, and the area is 25 kilometers away from the Indus Highway and district headquarters.

Ironically, the 600 kanals land donated by the Abbakhel villagers free of cost for the construction of the cadet college near the district headquarters has been made a bone of contention.

The provincial government had also approved the same site for the college but the Saifullah brothers have been creating hurdles for this mega project. The villagers also say the Lakki city and other villages, except these three villages, have been provided natural gas facility. “Why have these three villages been ignored; why are we being meted out step-motherly treatment?” questioned an area resident.

They say they have been facing unscheduled loadshedding and deprived of gas and other facilities being enjoyed by people of other villages in the district.

Retired Professor Zarwali Khan told The News that they would continue their mission to nominate their own candidates irrespective of the propaganda by other parties against them.

“We have a right to field and elect our own candidates as it’s a democratic process where everyone can form his party and field their candidate,” he asked.

“We have launched this mission to mobilise the people of other villages to stand up firmly for their own interests instead of becoming tools and puppets in the hands of these seasonal politicians,” he added.

He said the people of Abbashaheedkhel were against the ‘Khans’ and ‘Maulanas’ as they had been exploiting the people for their own ends.

“We have also been invited by residents of other villages after coming to know about the united stand taken by the people of Abbashaheedkhel and we will certainly visit them to get their point of view and their support,” Zarwali Khan said.

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Political war between Saifullah brothers, JUI-F getting tense in Lakki Marwat

Barkatullah Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: The political war between Saifullah brothers and leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), which has been going on since the then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government, is likely to get tense gradually in the district.

The JUI-F has decided to award tickets to former MPA Zafarullah Khan Marwat for PK-74, another former MPA Imran Khan for PK-75 and former judicial officer Sher Afzal Khan for PK-76 while ticket for the lone seat of the National Assembly (NA-29) might go to the sitting MPA Munawwar Khan or probably to his brother Ameer Nawaz Khan.

However, there are rumours that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also flexing his muscles to contest for NA-29 seat. Last time Maulana Fazl had lost to PPP leader and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi in his hometown Dera Ismail Khan and later former chief minister. Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly MPA Akram Khan Durrani later got him succeeded from Bannu.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Humayun Saifullah Khan has been carrying out his election campaign effectively and he daily visits the far-flung areas where people are deprived of the basic facilities such as drinking water, electricity, education and healthcare.

He is not only making hectic efforts for his own win but also for his brothers, PPP provincial president Anwar Saifullah Khan and PML (Likeminded) Senator Salim Saifullah Khan.

Political circles of Saifullah brothers are of the view that Anwar Saifullah Khan would again contest election from PK-74 and Humayun Saifullah from PK-75 while on PK-76 they would support PML-N leader Akhtar Munir Marwat, retired federal secretary and brother of Anwar Kamal Marwat (late) and for the seat of NA-29 Senator Salim Saifullah Khan and Anwar Saifullah Khan are expected to contest the polls.

In Serai Naurang tehsil, another candidate Anwar Hayat Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami, former union council nazim, is also set to contest the election from PK-74 as an independent candidate.

The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) including Zarin Zia, Salim Nawaz and others have not yet given their decision regarding the elections.

The position of Saifullah brothers in PK-74 seems stronger after former councillor Ghafoor Khan Takhtikhel joined their group.

Awami National Party (ANP) candidates have not yet come forward, nor have they launched political and election campaign though MPA Yasmin Zia and her husband Saddruddin advocate, who is also president of ANP district cabinet, but mostly he lives in Peshawar, have not yet made up their minds to contest the polls.

Former inspector general of police Dil Jan Khan has recently joined the JUI-F and his cousin Sher Afzal Khan is already in the run for the polls. Former councillor and PPP leader late Muhammad Azim Khan Begukhel joined the JUI-F and the credit goes to his early joining the party and that’s why JUI-F chief has decided to award ticket for PK-76 to Sher Afzal Khan.

Likewise, JUI-F MPA Naseer Muhammad Khan Maidadkhel has also not expressed his wish whether or not to contest the coming election again.

There is no denying the fact that MPA Akram Khan Durrani did not release fund for the development of Lakki Marwat during his five-year long tenure as chief minister in the past.

He did not extend the two-way road to Lakki Marwat via Serai Naurang tehsil from Bannu despite the fact that former MPA Zafarullah Khan was there.

Also, the ex-chief minister did not set up the Jail Park in Lakki Marwat while he completed a similar scheme in his native town Bannu. He did not develop the drainage system in Lakki Marwat like what he did in Bannu.

He also awarded a vast land to one of his dear ones to establish a park in Malu Gul area.

The list of complaints may run longer but all he did because of having political grudges against Lakki-based Saifullah brothers and hopefully the people would not have forgotten these things.

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Fog continues to disrupt flight schedule, irks passengers in KP

Barkatullah Marwat
PESHAWAR: The thick fog that have enveloped most parts of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have disrupted flight schedule at the Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar.
 
The cancellation of international flights due to the foggy weather has created problems for the general passengers, including those working in the Gulf countries as they have been stranded in the provincial capital over the last three days.

Talking to The News, a group of passengers complained that they should have been informed about the delays. One of the passengers, Nek Wali hailing from Miranshah in North Waziristan complained he came to the airport on Monday, but the flight was cancelled due to thick fog. “My visa is going to expire today (Wednesday) if I don’t catch the flight,” he said.

Another passenger, Mohammad Shah, said he was scheduled to leave for Dubai, but couldn’t do so due to cancellation of the flight. “The management of the company I work for will be angry at me. They don’t accept excuses and want us to arrival on time after availing the leave,” he said.

Sharing his difficulties, Akbar Ali belonging to Shangla said, “I spent three days in a hotel due to the cancellation of my flight. “I would have spent the three days at home if I knew of the problem,” he maintained.

Usman Ali, resident of Chitral district, said, “The relevant authorities were supposed to inform the passengers about the flight schedule.” Abdur Rehman, who wanted to take a flight to a Gulf country, believed the officials of the various franchises sitting in the airport were dodging the passengers.

‘Accused’ doctor appointed DHQ Lakk imedical superintendent

Barkatullah Marwat

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has appointed a doctor as the medical superintendent in the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Lakki Marwat district although he was held ‘guilty’ by an inquiry committee in a case regarding illegal cutting of trees.


The official documents with ‘The News’ revealed that Dr Mashal Khan had ordered cutting the trees in the Police and Civil Hospital in Serai Naurang tehsil in 2011 when he was posted there as senior medical officer.

The trees at the government institutions have always been the property of the forest department. However, the sources said that Dr Mashal had ordered the peons of the hospital to cut the trees without bringing it into the notice of the forest department officials.

The sources said that a nominal amount of Rs320 was deposited by Dr Mashal in the government exchequer while no account was given of the money earned through the sale of the timber.

Following the incident, the then executive district officer (EDO) Dr Muhammad Iqbal constituted a three-member committee comprising Dr Muhammad Bashir as chairman and Dr Muhammad Ishaq and Dr Muhammad Altaf as members to hold investigation into the allegations levelled against Dr Mashal Khan for illegally cutting the trees.

The inquiry committee submitted its report in which Dr Mashal Khan was held responsible for misusing his authority and recommended ‘major penalty’ for him.

The then EDO forwarded the inquiry report to the provincial director general health in Peshawar, but nothing came out of it.

The Health Department first appointed Dr Mashal Khan, who is in grade 18, as the agency surgeon for the Frontier Region (FR) Lakki Marwat and later as the medical superintendent in the District Headquarters Hospital replacing Dr Muhammad Ishaq who is in grade-19. The sources said another inquiry had also been ordered against the MS in connection with the previous enquiry.

They said that Dr Akbar Jan and Dr Khan Malook had been appointed as inquiry officers against Dr Mashal Khan, but interestingly both are subordinate to the medical superintendent. “It is somewhat awesome to conduct inquiry against your boss or head of the institution and I don’t think the inquiry would be fair and transparent,” a doctor, wishing anonymity, told The News.

Former MS Dr Muhammad Ishaq was transferred and posted as the in-charge of the Rural Health Centre, Tajori.

When contacted, Dr Mashal Khan said the previous inquiry was one-sided and was not transparent. He said he was ready to face the consequences of the second inquiry to be conducted by his subordinate doctors.

Interestingly, he had given a statement in writing to the enquiry committee that the remaining amount had been spent on manufacturing furniture for the hospital.

However, EDO Abdul Ghaffar Wazir said the enquiry had been conducted against Dr Mashal Khan and forwarded to the director general of Health Department but no result had come out.

He also said another enquiry had been ordered by the Health Department against Dr Mashal.

Lakki Marwat jail inaugurated despite construction flaws

Barkatullah Marwat

PESHAWAR: Despite defects, the newly- constructed building of the district jail in Lakki Marwat was inaugurated by Minister of Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain during his visit to the area on October 8.

The prison was constructed at a cost of Rs170 million on 185 kanals of land in the District Headquarters Township in Tajazai. Sources said that prior to its inauguration, the officials of Communication and Works (C&D) Department and some local politicians were pushing the Prisons Department to take over the building, but the jail authorities were reluctant to do so due to certain flaws in its construction.

The jail authorities objected to its design and claimed the material used in its construction was substandard. The standard of the building material could be judged from the fact that one of its watch towers fell following a windstorm. It was later repaired but it put a question mark on strength of three other towers.

The sources said the water seepage had started from the tanks over the barracks and the toilets were also damaged. The electrification in the jail building was also not properly carried out. “When we try to switch on the bulb, the fan starts functioning,” an employee remarked. The sources said that about 26 contractors had been involved in the construction of the jail and now all avoid visiting it when called to carry out repairs in the building.

After publication of a story in The News on April 14, the C&W officials expedited the efforts to hand over the mega project to the Prisons Department.

The sources said Inspector General of Prisons Qudratullah Marwat also pointed out some defects to the provincial government during his visit to the jail. Subsequently, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti sent a Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) to confirm the flaws pointed out by the IG Prisons.

Interestingly, the PIT also confirmed the flaws in the building and noted that the material used in the construction of the jail was sub-standard.” It further stated that the design made by the C&W Department was not according to the one given by the Prisons Department.

The chief minister, who also holds the portfolio of the Communication and Works Department, during a meeting to review the developmental projects made it clear to the officials that use of substandard material in construction of buildings, roads and bridges would not be tolerated.

When contacted, the jail superintendent Gul Alam Khan said 141 prisoners had been shifted to the new jail and at the moment only 30 security personnel had been deployed. Regarding the capacity of the jail, the superintendent said about 500 prisoners and 150 jail staff in addition to 1,000 security personnel would be accommodated in the jail.

When contacted, Chief Engineer Usman Khan Marwat said without the approval of the jail authorities the C&W Department could not execute the project and alter its design. About the use of substandard material, he said the jail authorities and government officials could inspect the building of the district jail and point out the flaws.

Provincial Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain when contacted said: “I visited the prison and went inside the building and found everything in proper order.” He added that there might be some flaws in the building but all had been rectified.

Email: bumarwat@gmail.com

Lakki admin yet to compensate affectees

Barkatullah Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: The district administration is yet to carry out an accurate assessment of the losses suffered by the flood victims and distribute Watan cards to the genuine affectees. The News learnt that Jogi Killay in Pezu town, comprising 1,200 houses, suffered 90 percent damage and destruction in the July-August floods and torrential rains.

Following the directives of the government, the district administration carried out assessment of the damage in the district but still there are some areas that were ignored. The residents of Jogi Killay complained that the flood swept away their houses but the patwari sent by the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel did not collect accurate information on the damage caused by the floods.

They said the patwari didn’t do a proper job and many genuine affectees were ignored. They said majority of the villagers had allegedly been deprived of the right of compensation extended by the federal and provincial governments.

Giving details of the damage, a resident Mosam Khan son of Jalat Khan said four rooms and boundary wall of his house were damaged in the flood but he wasn’t compensated. “Who will compensate us when the patwari didn’t visit my house to assess the losses?” he asked.

Shah Nawaz son of Ayaz Khan complained that four rooms and wall of his house were washed away in the torrential rains while Mir Abbas, son of Badshah Khan, said that his five rooms and wall had been destroyed in the flood. Both complained that they were unable to convey the details of their losses to the government, as the patwari did not visit their village.

Zainuddin son of Gulab Khan said three rooms and wall of his house were destroyed while Farid son of Sanam Khan said his entire house was swept away in the flood but were yet to be compensated.

Other villagers who claimed to have suffered damages in the rains and floods and weren’t compensated included Amir Nawaz losing three rooms and wall, Inshaullah, three rooms, Aliullah, two rooms, Raees Khan two rooms and boundary wall, Hashim Khan, two rooms and wall, Raza Khan, two rooms, Said Hassan, two rooms and wall, Jan Muhammad, two rooms and wall, Zarwali, three rooms and wall, Karim Khan, two rooms and Mir Badshah.

An official in the district administration, pleading anonymity, said the Watan cards had been issued and distributed unfairly among the people.

He said most of the patwaris tasked to collect the information on the losses had not performed their duty accurately and honestly.

The official said the patwaris forwarded the information of those people who bribed them or enjoyed strong recommendation. When contacted, the District Coordination Officer Muhammad Ayaz Mandokhel said: “Never call me again for comments,” and hang up his phone.

Email: bumarwat@gmail.com

Consumers forced to pay for repair of transformers

Barkatullah Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: Consumers in most areas in Lakki Marwat district were being forced to pay for the repair of out-of-order electricity transformers.

During a visit to Mash Habibullah and Jogi Wanda villages, the residents expressed concern over the apathetic attitude of the local authorities of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) for not repairing the defective transformers.

Talking to The News, the elders of Mash Habibullah village including Gul Tiaz, Delawar Khan, Sabz Ali Khan, Jan Amir, Habibullah and Abaz Ali Khan said their village had 300 houses and they were paying their utility bills regularly.

They said they had been paying for the repair of the lone electricity transformer of 100 KV installed in their village. “We collect Rs8000 to 10,000 when the transformer develops a fault to carry out repairs,” Habibullah said.

He said most villagers were poor and unable to pay the amount and the rich villagers had to pay more to foot the bill. They said the village elders visited the office of the Pesco Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to request for the repairs of the faulty transformer that had been out of order for the last week but to no avail.

In reply to a question, the elders said the villagers had been paying their electricity bills and there was no question of power theft in the village. Village elder Abaz Ali Khan asked for how long they would have to pay for the repair of the transformer out of our own pockets.

When the office of Pesco’s Executive Engineer in Lakki Marwat was contacted, someone introducing himself as Waheed Khan said that none of the consumers had visited the office for registering complaint.

“Pesco cannot afford to repair the faulty transformers in the villages anymore,” he said, adding that the consumers were nowadays collecting money for the repair of the transformers. He said the village transformer was overloaded as it was supplying to 300 consumers. He felt a transformer could properly meet the needs of 100 houses only.

When the issue was brought into the notice of the provincial Director Public Relations for Pesco, Shaukat Afzal, he said: “Kindly check with the villagers as they are entitled to get the repair of the transformer through the Pesco if they pay monthly bills regularly.”

Email: bumarwat@gmail.com