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Saturday, March 30, 2013

Rs1 billion approved for Kohat varsity building

Source Dawn


The government has approved Rs1 billion for the construction of new building of the University of Engineering and Technology of Kohat.
The chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had approved PC-1 and the money required for its execution. Officials said the government had already purchased 1,000 kanals of land in the Kohat Town where faculties of electrical, civil, mechanical and oil and gas will be established in two years.
According to a notification the vice chancellor of Peshawar University of Science and Technology has been deputed as project director of the new building.
At present the engineering university has been established in an old makeshift small building unable to provide space for hostels and classes.
Besides the building is far from the city and the students have to change two vehicles to reach the city.

C&W accountant shot dead in Kohat

Source The News


Unidentified gunmen shot dead an accountant of the Communication and Works (C&W) Department near Kohat University on Monday.Sources said Shah Adam Khan, resident of Sabirabad in Karak district, along with his family members was on way to Peshawar when he was intercepted by armed men in Kohat.They sprayed him with bullets, leaving him dead on the spot.The slain person was accountant in the C&W Department in Mansehra district, the sources said.

Man gunned down in Kohat

Source Express Tribune


A man belonging to a Shia family was gunned down by unidentified people in Safar, on the border of Lower Orakzai Agency and Kohat district, on Sunday. It is not clear whether the attack was a case of sectarian violence.
An official of the Usterzai police, Kohat, told The Express Tribune that deceased Gul Hussain was a resident of Marai Bala. The police said Hussain was on his way to Kohat when unidentified assailants ambushed him around 7am.
“They opened fire and killed him on the spot,” the official added.
The cousin of the deceased, Samin Haider filed a case stating the family did not have any personal enmity and blamed the incident on sectarianism.
After the incident, residents blocked GT Road near Kacha Pakha, Kohat district for more than 30 minutes. However, the police rushed to the site, dispersed the protesters so the road would be clear for the government officials who were passing through

Road mishap: Six injured in accident in Kohat

Source Express Tribune


At least six people were injured when a passenger van plunged into a pit by the roadside in Jozara on the border of Kohat and Hangu districts, on Thursday.
Mujahid Khan, in charge of the Abdul Ali Indus Highway check post, said a van loaded with passengers en route to Peshawar from Thal tehsil slipped into the pit around 10:00am, injuring six persons severely.
The official added a pedestrian crossing the road caused the driver to swerve. The pedestrian fled from the scene while police and residents of the area reached the site to initiate rescue work.
Three of the injured were shifted to Headquarters Hospital in Hangu, while those who were critically injured were referred to Peshawar.
A case was filed against the unidentified pedestrian and an investigation is underway.

Two girls kidnapped in Kohat

Source Dawn


Two tribal sisters were kidnapped from a ration collection point on Bannu Road here on Wednesday.
Confirming this, the Junglekhel police said that one Eitbar Gul informed them that his two nieces, Rafeela and Reshma, had gone to Malik hotel to collect ration when an official of World Food Programme Zahir and his accomplices, including Noor Ali, Taj Mohammad and Zafar Gul of Qamar Din Garhi and Lal Din Garhi areas, allegedly took them to an unknown place.
The police quoted Mr Eitbar that he learnt about missing of his nieces when they did not return home after several hours. They said that local people had informed Mr Eitbar about identity of the alleged kidnappers.
The Junglekhel police have registered a case against the accused and raiding various places to arrest them and recover the two girls.


Ex Army Officer killed in Kohat

Source The News


A retired army officer was shot dead over a property dispute in Ustarzai area on Sunday, police sources said.They said that Captain (retd) Ali Muhammad Bangash was on his way home from the market when gunmen opened fire on him, leaving him dead on the spot.The police registered the case against the accused Mazhar Ali, Riaz Ali and Zulfiqar Ali and arrested one of the accused Riaz Ali while efforts were on to nab other accused.

Kohat: Electoral success hinges on changing political landscape

Source Express Tribune


Kohat district is one of the toughest electoral battlegrounds where all parties will flex their political muscle for the three provincial assembly seats and one national assembly seat.
NA-14
Even though Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have agreed to an electoral partnership across K-P, party leaders are likely to face difficult negotiations in Kohat as both Engineer Malik Asad (PML-N) and Gohar Saifullah (JUI-F) are strong candidates in the region.
Previously, Javaid Ibrahim Paracha was a formidable ticket holder for the PML-N in NA-14. However, being retired, he decided not to contest. Asad, who left PPP after developing differences with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto before her assassination, contested the 2008 elections as an independent and later joined PML-N.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have nominated Pir Dilawar Shah, a former Awami National Party (ANP) MNA, who recently joined the party. Shah’s position in the area, however, is not very strong.  The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)  have nominated Pir Fahim, who is considered to be a weak candidate, while Sheryar Afridi and Afzal Khan Shinwari will be standing for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
It seems the PTI will have a strong chance given the fact that it has two candidates. However, the fight for the constituency will come down to PML-N and JUI-F candidates, the strongest in NA-14.
Shamim Afridi has been given an ANP ticket and Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gillani, a PML-N activist, will contest as an independent.
In 2008, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was represented by the late Shahid Khan Afridi. This year, no one is willing to stand for the MQM in the polls.
The situation is difficult to predict in the constituency as both JUI-F and PML-N candidates have a sufficient vote bank to win the election. Ironically, ANP, which won most of the seats from Kohat in 2008, has been unable to find a suitable candidate.
PK37
PK-37
In the 2008 general elections, Amjad Khan Afridi was elected from PK-38 as an independent candidate even though he was a member of the Awami National Party (ANP). The ANP, however, did not give him a party ticket and instead chose to support Shaukat Habib.
In his show of loyalty to the ANP, Amjad gifted the seat to ANP and was awarded the portfolio of ministry for housing. Nawabzada Aurangzeb Alam Khan, who contested from PK-37 also as an independent candidate, ended up in second place and later joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2012. He will contest from the same constituency in the general elections.
Shaukat Habib parted ways with the ANP and joined the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in 2012 along with his father Al-Haj Ghulam Habib. Al-Haj will contest the PK-37 seat on a JUI-F ticket.
Former provincial minister for jails Hidayatullah Afridi will contest on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket while Malik Iqbal Awan on a Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ticket.
None of the PPP members applied for a party ticket in PK-37. Eyeing an opportunity, Muhammad Tariq recently joined the party and applied for one. Though it is likely Tariq will be awarded the ticket, his strength as a candidate will be limited in the wake of other contestants from PTI, JUI-F, and Amjad Afridi.
Considering the changing alliances and chosen candidates, ANP’s Amjad Afridi is a strong candidate in the contest for PK-37. Amjad, as previously, will contest the elections as an independent candidate as part of his strategy to triumph over other contesters.
Votes for Hidayatullah Afridi’s and Amjad Afridi will be distributed between the two due to family ties, while the vote banks of Ghulam Habib and Muhammad Tariq will be negatively affected because they hail from the same village.
This puts PTI’s Nawabzada Aurangzeb in a position of strength, considering he was the runner up in the 2008 general elections and just lost by 117 votes. Family rifts between JUI-F’s Shoukat and ANP’s Amjad Afridi will also favour PTI in gaining additional votes.
PK38
PK-38
The PK-38 constituency is distributed along sectarian lines and considering the spate of sectarian violence across the country, both Shias and Sunnis will push their candidates, along with the efforts of political parties to field their own candidates.
It is important to mention the PK-38 constituency has not been affected by any violence in recent months.
In the 2008 general elections, Syed Qalb-e-Hassan clinched the PK-38 seat on a PPP ticket. However, Hassan’s uncle and former Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Syed Ibn-e-Ali parted ways with the PPP and joined ANP; he will contest the election on the latter’s ticket.
The JUI-F has not decided its candidate for PK-38 yet. Earlier, there were indications that JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdul Hai would contest the election, but with the joining of former Nazim of Urban-V Dr Matiullah Shah from JI, JUI-F has found a strong candidate in Shah.
The JI will issue the ticket to Haji Muhammad Hamid Khan, while former ANP and now PTI member Shahbaz Gul will contest from the same constituency.
MPA Musarrat Shafi is expected to receive an ANP ticket for a reserved seat, while Advocate Masood and Syed Mohsin Shah are also seeking an ANP ticket.
Mohsin, who is MNA Khursheed Begum’s brother-in-law, could contest from PK-38 as an independent candidate, but because the ANP vote bank is unevenly divided, none of its candidates are likely to even end up as the runner-up.
PTI’s position is also weak because Shahbaz Gul is not socially active and is more of a businessman. The real battle remains among Qalb-e-Hassan, Ibn-e-Ali and Dr Matiullah Shah. Though the situation might be favourable for Hassan and Ali, the JUI-F’s candidate will have an advantage because the division of votes between the two due to family ties will leave room for the JUI-F candidate to maneuver through. Still, some political analysts say Hassan may emerge victorious.
PK39
PK-39
The 2008 general elections witnessed an interesting twist when Dr Iqbal Din, a JI member, was elected as MPA from PK-39, despite the fact that his party had boycotted the elections. Rifts surfaced between JI and Din, after which he received offer from JUI-F to join them. But he remained loyal to JI.
Just when JI’s district council was about to decide on another candidate for PK-39, Din’s name surfaced and was given a green signal from the party, making him one of the strongest candidates in the constituency.
JUI-F then finally decided to give the party ticket to Colonel (retd) Shadab Khan, son of the late former MPA Shad Muhammad Khan. Shad was elected as MPA twice from PK-39 as a candidate of the erstwhile Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao, now known as Qaumi Watan Party.
ANP, on the other hand, will be represented by Advocate Nisar Khan, while PTI’s candidate is Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi, who contested the 2008 polls as an independent candidate.
Pir Adil Shah, believed to be PML-N’s strongest candidate from PK-39, recently joined the PPP along with his brother Pir Dilawar Shah. Adil Shah’s original constituency was PK-38. However, having left that constituency to Qalb-e-Hassan, he has now decided to contest from 
Of the three strongest candidates – Adil Shah, Din and Shahid Qureshi – PTI seems to have an advantage in this constituency with support from the region’s youth.

Elders from FR Kohat threaten to move court against shifting of returning office to FR Bannu

Source Business Recorder

Elders from Frontier Region-Kohat on Tuesday warned that they would move the court against the shifting of district returning office from FR Kohat to Bannu. They asked the Election Commission of Pakistan and Supreme Court to take immediate notice against this illegal step, avoid pre-poll rigging in the elections. 

Speaking here at Press Club along with elders from five tribes of Dara-Adam Khel, from FR Kohat, Haji Malik Fida said that the shifting of district returning office from FR Kohat to Bannu as a matter of grave concern, which was taken without any prior notice and unspecified reasons. 

Flanked by Malik Noor Zaman, Haji Noor Sher Afridi, ex-MNA, Malik Haji Amanullah Khan and others, he viewed that the FR Kohat is more peaceful area as compared to FR Bannu, despite that the shifting of district returning office is totally out of context. He alleged the former provincial minister and candidate from constituency NA-47, Sher Azam Wazir is behind this unconstitutional act. He termed the step is a pre-poll rigging, demanding of the Election Commission of Pakistan to take immediate notice of it. We would not accept any individual step, which could undermine holding of free and fair election in the area, he warned. 

He informed that the total registered voters are 100,000 in the constituency NA-47 FR Kohat, adding that there is no security threats as security forces taking control of the area. We would take every possible step, to again shift the DRO in FR Bannu, he vowed. Our protest will continue till acceptance of demands, he vowed. 

Malik Noor Zaman said that the step is to be taken within a few hours, having any information to administration, assistance returning officer, and deputy commissioner about the decision. There was not also given information at Election Commission of Pakistan web portal, pertaining to such step, aimed at to undermine conducting of free and fair elections in the constituency, he maintained. 

He also said the FR Kohat division is a more peaceful against the FR Bannu. He said that the decision could not be in favour of masses, and holding of transparent elections; therefore, he said the interim government and Election Commission of Pakistan should take immediate notice against this illegal act, and ECP should also declare ex-provincial minister, Sher Azam Wazir, as disqualified, if he found guilty in this case. 

He warned if the interim government and ECP would not consider their demand, they would opt to move court against it. He further said that they would stage a sit-in outside the Governor House, and an organised agitation campaign against this unconstitutional step. 

Tirah IDPs awaiting govt’s help in Kohat

Source The News


The internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the Tirah valley in Khyber Agency who travelled to Kohat and Peshawar in the wake of the clashes between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) and Ansarul Islam (AI) were forced to live under an open sky and wait for government’s assistance.

Residents of Adamkhel, Malikdinkhel, Shalobar Qambarkhel, Zakhakhel and Qambarkhel were displaced due to the attack and occupation of TTP and LI of their houses. Their houses had been torched by the militants affiliated with the Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-e-Islam and TTP. The residents were forced to migrate to safer places in Kohat and Peshawar without their belongings.

According to the official sources, around 500 families had travelled to Kohat and Peshawar but the local sources added that number of the IDPs was greater.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Anti-encroachment drive ordered in Kohat

Source Dawn


Kohat Commissioner Sahibzada Mohammad Anees has issued fresh orders to tehsil municipal administration for removal of encroachments from the city bazaars and roads to facilitate pedestrians and ensure smooth flow of traffic.
Several anti-encroachment campaigns in past have failed to produce results due to the administration’s leniency towards the business community.
Some traders and residents believe that if Afghan refugees are confined to camps, over 80 per cent of handcarts and other encroachments would disappear from city areas. However, the refugees have no alternative to earn livelihood while their aid remains suspended by the international agencies.
Besides, the IDPs influx has also been making it difficult for the administration to control roadside businesses.
Traders action committee president Haji Abid told Dawn said that the administration should first remove hundreds of handcarts from the vicinity of government high school No 2 and vegetable market if it was sincere in its efforts.
Another trader Israr Shinwari said that the local traders had been charging hefty amounts from refugees for allowing them kiosks in front of their shops.
It has been noticed that whenever the district administration launches anti-encroachment drive the traders start shutter down strike against it and after negotiations the campaign is stopped. If the administration is serious in clearing the mess it has to take strict action in all areas of Kohat city and remove all encroachments without any discrimination.

Kohat historical sites turning into ruins

Source Dawn


Most historical places in Kohat are in an absolute shambles due to the archeology department’s neglect.
Many artefacts, including carved stones, marble tiles and statues, are taken away possibly by smugglers for a better price abroad.
Not long ago, the government had planned preservation of these places and sent in archeological experts for survey. However, the plan didn’t enter the execution phase.
Among these sites listed by the erstwhile federal tourism ministry are caves from Aad and Samud dynasty, Kohat springs visited by Baba Guru Nanak, Zinda Pir shrine, Kohat Fort, Cavagnari House, Guava Gardens, hilly track, Teri ashram and Hindu Bazaar, Handy Side Gate, Toi Banda rest house, Khushal Garh rest house, a 16th century mosque in Shahpur village, grave of former West Pakistan chief justice M. R. Kayani, palaces of emperor Durrani and his princes, Dhoda ground, where emperor Zahiruddin Babar camped on his way to India, eight out of 12 gates of the Walled City and Khushal Garh iron bridge.
During a visit, Dawn found the Durrani graveyard and the ruins of Aad and Samud without precious tiles, gravestones, coins and statues. A few are rebuilt by caretakers.
The shrine of Zinda Pir famous as Ghamkol Pir has been reconstructed by the saint’s grandsons and followers. However, the cave, where the saint used to perform rituals and pray, is in its original condition.
Kohat Fort built by emperor on the hilltop, where warrior Alexander camped with his army before marching towards north, now serves as the headquarters of the IXth division of Pakistan Army.
Only two places at the fort, one the tunnel, which served as the only entrance and second the trench surrounding it, are in original shape.
Repeated requests from the local residents to the government for preservation of these historical places have fallen on deaf ears.
The people have feared historical sites may disappear altogether if they are not properly preserved now.
They called for the government to allocate appropriate funds for protecting these places from going to ruin.
This, according to them, will help attract tourists from within the country and abroad and thus, generating revenue.
The people also demanded that the tomb of former chief justice Kayani be declared national heritage and a library be constructed there.
Ironically, when Dawn visited the place, a shepherd was making tea on the two pieces of the gravestone without knowing about its importance.

Kausar announces UET campus in Kohat

Source The Peshawar


The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has given go ahead for establishment of the Kohat Campus of Peshawar based University of Engineering and Technology at Sheikhan in Kohat on Saturday and acquisition of one thousand kanal land, for which, he said, Rs.250 million have already been earmarked.  
The campus to be developed on the pattern of a modern university will house the market oriented disciplines with state of the art educational, research and training facilities.
The Governor also performed earth breaking ceremony for construction of a magnificent Ahmad Faraz Park; named after renowned Urdu poet, Late Ahmad Faraz at Jarma; just northern side of the Kohat University of Science and Technology.  
The park to be built over a hill top; measuring 223 kanals on the pattern of Daman-e-Koh of Islamabad will be completed at a cost of Rs.58.70 million and will encompass, restaurant, family enclave, children amusement, small zoo, green terracing belts, walking tracks and long stairs. 

Five killed, 13 injured in Kohat mishap

Source Frontier Post

 At least five people were died and 13 others sustained serious injuries when a passenger coach collided with a truck near Kohat tunnel on Indus High Way on Sunday, police and local of the area said.
Eye witness told that a passengers flying coach was en route Peshawar from Kohat when it collided with a truck coming from opposite side near friendship tunnel of Kohat on Indus High Way. 
As result, five people including driver of the coach and a minor girl were died and 13 others injuries. 
Those who died were identified as Habib Ullah, Numan, Najma, Sher Hassan and Niamat Ullah Khan while the wounded persons included Obaid Ullah son of Niaz Bad Shah, Abdur Rehman Sattar Jand, Noor Rehman son of Mir Aslam, Bostan son of Gulistan, Fakhr Uddin son of Mohammad Amin, Sajad Gul son of Hijab Gul, Shah Abdul son of Ashraf Shin Dand, Yasir son of Nazim Khan, Irshad son of Rangin Bad Shah, Izat Ameer Noor Zaman of Peshawar, Amjed Khan son of Ayub and 12 year old girl Saghya daughter of Shahab Ullah. 
The injured persons were rushed to KDA hospital Kohat. Police lodged a case and started probe into the incident. 

AIOU campus in Kohat

Source Dawn


Provincial Minister for Food Syed Qalbe Hassan inaugurated construction work on a campus of the Allama Iqbal Open University and the building of a public library here on Tuesday.
Speaking at a ceremony on the occasion, he said development projects worth over Rs4 billion have been completed, while Rs1 billion spent on education sector in Kohat during his tenure. He said an oil refinery would be constructed in Kohat which would provide jobs to thousands of people.
He said 110 kanals had been allocated for construction of an office of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission to exploit huge reserves of uranium found in the region.

Defections: Influential brothers from Kohat join PPP

Source Express Tribune


Member National Assembly (MNA) Pir Dilawar Shah and his brother Pir Adil Shah joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday.
Dilawar was elected as an MNA from NA-14 Kohat on Awami National Party’s (ANP) ticket in the 2008 parliamentary polls, while his brother Adil was the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for PK-38 Kohat.
In a meeting with PPP Women Wing Chairperson Faryal Talpur and PPP Kohat district’s cabinet on Monday, both brothers switched over to the PPP. Dilawar and Adil will now contest the upcoming elections on PPP tickets.
Pir Adil Shah told The Express Tribune they hold no grievances against the PML-N and ANP.
According to Adil, both brothers had demanded their respective parties to give them tickets for the national and provincial assemblies. However, the parties failed to respond positively, after which the brothers approached the PPP leadership.
His brother, Dilawar, has been promised a National Assembly ticket by the PPP while he will now stand from PK-39, said Adil.

Compensation for Kohat terror victims released

Source The News

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released an amount of Rs10 million as compensation to the legal heirs of the victims of terrorism incidents in Kohat Division.An official communiqué issued here on Friday said that the amount had been placed at the disposal of Commissioner Kohat Division for payment as compensation to the victims’ families after observance of all formalities and laid down procedure. f