KHAR: Peace was restored in Bajaur Agency but militants could still pose a threat in the border areas, said Political Agent Abdul Jabar Shah. Addressing a jirga of Mandal tribe, he said that normalcy returned to the region after elimination of terrorists, however, durable peace would need some time. The tribal elders, members of peace committees and senior officials attended the jirga. The elders of Mandal tribe assured the local administration of their support in maintaining writ of the government in the region. He urged the tribal elders to realise the situation and remain alert to face challenges because it was responsibility of every citizen to defend the area against anti-state elements. Mr Shah asked the elders to speed up their anti-militant activities and fulfil their collective responsibility with honesty and commitment. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The authorities confirmed that three children were tested positive for polio in Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Two of the new cases belong to Frontier Region (FR) of Bannu and one to North Waziristan Agency, according to officials at National Institute of Health Islamabad. The three new cases from Fata put the number of polio cases in the country at 46. Out of these cases, 34 have been reported from Fata. Dawn.
PESHAWAR: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas Tribunal on Monday set aside conviction of two juvenile offenders and acquitted them in a narcotics case. The tribunal comprising chairman Shah Wali Khan and members Pir Fida and Akbar Khan ruled that the two petitioners appeared to be innocent in light of the evidence on record. The political agent of Khyber agency, in his capacity as a sessions judge, had convicted the two juvenile offenders few weeks ago and sentenced both of them to 14 years imprisonment with fine of Rs500,000 each. They had filed an appeal with the court of Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) commissioner, who dismissed the appeal and thus, upholding their conviction following which they filed a review petition before the Fata Tribunal. Dawn.
GHALANAI: Residents of Ghalanal Yousaf Khel village blocked the main Peshawar-Bajaur road outside Mohmand Press Club here against the Levies personnel for raiding their houses. They were holding black flags and shouting slogans against the political administration and the paramilitary force. The protesters said Levies men entered their houses without permission during a search operation and misbehaved and abused the inmates. They said such an action was against tribal norms. They said the political administration arrested tribesmen under the collective responsibility clause of the FCR, but even then raids were continuing. The protesters criticised local representatives for not resolving their problems. Dawn.
LANDI KOTAL: Scores of protesting students in Jamrud the other day demanded an increase in number of seats at the localcollege as over a hundred students could not get admission due to shortage of seats at the institution.The affected students staged a protest demonstration at the Bab-i-Khyber and later went to the offices of the agency education officer where they submitted their demands to the concerned officials. The students demanded of the Fata Education Directorate and Khyber political agent to increase seats in Government Degree College, Jamrud to accommodate poor students. Dawn.
