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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Five cops laid to rest in Kohat

Source The News

Five out of six policemen, who were killed in clash with the militants in Matani area of Peshawar, were laid to rest in their respective villages with state honours on Saturday.

Six cops and a civilian were killed while seven others including District Police Officer (DPO) Delawar Khan Bangash were wounded in deadly attack by the militants in Matani areaon Friday. The DPO was on his way to Kohat after attending a meeting in Peshawar.

The DPO was being escorted by the mobile squad including constables Shoaib Noor, Mushtaq, Mudassir, Shehzad Khan, Noor Zaman and Nasrullah when the militants fired rocket shells on the police.

The DPO, who sustained bullet injuries in his stomach, was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Kohat where after successful operation his condition was stable.

The sources said that four militants were killed in the clash while they took away the rifles of the slain cops.


The security forces and police launched search operation in the area but there were no reports about the arrest of militants as they had already escaped.

Matani becomes nightmare for cops

Source The News

Matani has turned into a nightmare not only for the cops deployed at the local police station, but also for the security personnel travelling through the area during odd hours.

Seven policemen were killed and another seven were wounded when the convoy of the District Police Officer (DPO) Kohat, Dilawar Bangash came under attack in the troubled Matani town late Friday night. Dilawar Bangash sustained injuries when his convoy was attacked with rockets followed by intense firing by the militants. His condition, however, is said to be out of danger.

Six of the cops killed were those escorting the DPO from Kohat. One of those killed and five pf the wounded are from the Elite Force which was rushed to Matani from Peshawar after the DPO Kohat was attacked. The wounded are being treated at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

The funeral prayers for one slain cop was offered at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines in Peshawar. The funerals for the other six policemen were offered at Kohat Police Lines on Saturday.

Dilawar Bangash came under attack when he was on the way from Kohat to Peshawar at around 11pm. The attackers fired rockets at his car and another vehicle escorting him and then opened indiscriminate fire before the cops could retaliate. Contingents of the police and soldiers were sent to the area and the exchange of fire between the two sides continued for a few hours before the attackers managed to escape from the scene.

Only a few days back, five soldiers were killed and many wounded when their convoy was attacked by the militants on Kohat Road in Matani. Search operations are being conducted in the area on regular basis.

It isn’t known as to why the DPO Kohat was driving at such late hours from Kohat to Peshawar through the troubled Matani area in rural Peshawar where attacks on security personnel has become a routine.

In a similar attack, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Bannu, Abid Ali, was ambushed in the same area in November 2006. Abid Ali and his driver were killed in the attack.

Apart from ambushes, the police have come under attack in Matani and nearby villages bordering the tribal area over the last many years. In October last year, Superintendent of Police (SP) Rural, Peshawar, Khurshid Khan, was killed along with six other security personnel when militants stormed the Ghaziabad police post in the area.


Kalam Khan, another police officer who supervised the area of Matani as SP Rural, was killed in a suicide attack in Pishtakhara in March last year. Abdur Rashid Khan, deputy superintendent of police Saddar who looked after the areas of the Matani and Badaber police stations, was killed in another suicide attack on Kohat Road in January 2011. A number of inspectors, sub-inspectors and junior policemen have been killed and wounded in attacks in the area in recent years.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Six killed, DPO Kohat injured after militants launch attack in Mattani

Source Dawn

Four police personnel have been killed while the District Police Officer (DPO) Kohat Dilawar Bangash has been injured, along with his guards, after militants launched a rocket attack in Mattani area near FR Darra Adamkhel.
Exchange of fire is still continuing between security forces and the attackers. The situation is not clear and reinforcement has been sent in to counter the attack.
The DPO and his injured guard have reached CMH Kohat. The DPO's hand is reported to have been injured only.‏
Peshawar police confirmed that the DPO’s vehicle had come under attack and that he was injured along with other police officers.
“We cannot confirm more on it but yes the DPO and his guards have been injured in the attack with rockets and gunfire while exchange of firing is still going on,” police official said.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

PM approves FATA University in FR Kohat

Source APP

Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso Monday approved the establishment of FATA University at FR Kohat. The university has been approved to meet the long-standing demand of the people of the area for establishment of an institution of higher education. The Prime Minister advised the President to approve the draft regulation for establishment of FATA University at FR Kohat.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Three troops, two civilians killed in attack on convoy

Source The News


Three Pakistan Army soldiers and two civilians were killed while six others sustained injuries in a bomb attack followed by firing on a security forces’ convoy on the Kohat Road near Sra Khawra Matani while on its way from Kohat late Thursday night.

The ISPR confirmed the killing of only two soldiers and injuries to six others in the attack.Three policemen were also wounded when an armoured personnel carrier (APC) came under attack in the area.

Officials said a convoy of the army was on its way from Kohat to Peshawar when it came under a bomb attack, followed by intense firing near Sra Khawra in Matani.Three soldiers and two unidentified persons were killed in the blast and firing, while six others were wounded.

Authorities confirmed the death of two soldiers. The wounded were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital.Earlier, armed militants attacked an APC of the police in the area, injuring three cops. The forces cordoned off the area, launched a massive search operation that was underway till the filing of this report in the evening.

PTI chief urged to induct lawyer as law minister

Source The News


The district bar associations from Karak and Kohat on Thursday through resolutions congratulated PTI chief Imran Khan for his victory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the May 11 general elections and requested him to induct Imtiaz Qureshi advocate in the cabinet after winning his election on PK-39 Kohat.

Both the bar associations in the resolutions stated that they are proud of the PTI chief and thanked the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for electing the candidates of PTI. The bar associations requested the PTI chief to induct Imtiaz Qureshi advocate in the provincial cabinet as law minister as he is a competent and honest elected MPA of the PTI from the southern districts of the province. Iman Khan Bangash, president of the Kohat Bar Association, and Jan Alam advocate, president Karak Bar Association, said Imtiaz Qureshi from Kohat was competent.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Youngest MPA-elect in KP

Source The News


Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA-elect from PK-40, Karak-I, Gul Sahib Khan Khattak, is the youngest lawmaker among the 99 members, who returned to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the 2013 general elections.

Born on April 1, 1987, in Sabirabad in Karak district, Gul Sahib Khan received his early education in Kohat and qualified his higher secondary education certificate examination from PAF Degree College Kohat. He received his degree in Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the Islamia College.

Gul Sahib, who defeated experienced political leaders and former lawmakers, polled 24737 votes against his closest rival former provincial ministers Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel and PML -N leader Fareed Toofan.

Among the 59 new faces, who have made it to provincial assembly for the first time in the 2013 general elections, Gul Sahib is the youngest lawmaker-elect.

JUI-F rejects PTI’s mandate as rigged

Source The Nation

 Rejecting the mandate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday alleged that elections in Mardan, Peshawar and Kohat division were rigged.
“We will not accept PTI’s mandate in KPK, where election results have been rigged in favour of a party,” he said while talking to the media at the residence of former KPK chief minister Akram Khan Durrani in Hayatabad. 
“The PTI rigged elections in Mardan, Peshawar and Kohat divisions of KPK as well as in certain parts of FATA. The PTI mandate has become controversial. So, it has been decided that JUI-F would start a series of protests against it. May 11 polls have now become controversial, as reports of rigging have also been received from various parts of the country, he added.
Holding the Election Commission of Pakistan responsible for the rigging, he said that the ECP failed to hold free, fair and impartial elections.
About forming the coalition government in KPK, the JUI-F chief said that he has contacted PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, QWP, JI and independent elected representatives. “We will form a government based on true mandate of the people,” he added.
Fazl is still hopeful to form government in the province but the situation on the ground does not support his optimism, especially after the clear indication of the PML-N chief to respect the PTI mandate. The numbers game also narrates a different story. 
The JUI-F has 13 members and requires 37 more to form the government. Even if it manages to win the support of PML-N, 12 MPAs, QWP and JI seven each, it would need another 11 members.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Pindi-Kohat train service suspended for 5 days

Source Dawn


The Pakistan Railways has suspended a Kohat-bound train from Rawalpindi for five days due to shortage of diesel, while two more trains will be suspended next week.
Shortage of fuel is the main reason behind this, but the official claim blames shortage of passengers.
A senior official of Pakistan Railways told Dawn that the organisation had to clear dues of Rs1,300 million owed to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) against diesel charges, and the PSO had asked to clear these before receiving new consignments.
He said that for the past two months, the divisional headquarters were purchasing diesel from the open market, while the PR started negotiations with PSO officials and managed to pay the dues in installments.
“The PSO has started providing fuel, which will arrive in different divisions next week,” he added.
Talking about the service suspension, the official said shortage of funds was the main reason as there was a gap between expenditures and income, adding that the PR required 200,000 liters of diesel daily to run trains across the country.
He added that the Pakistan Railways has planned suspension of two Sargodha-Kunndian trains in the coming days.
A few days ago, the PR had also suspended a night coach from Lahore to Karachi for 15 days.
“In Rawalpindi, the daily requirement of diesel for the 34 trains is 45,000 liters. However 20,000 liters of diesel are provided, leaving no option but to suspend the train to Kohat,” he said.
When contacted, Rawalpindi’s Divisional Superintendent Syed Munawar Shah said the Kohat train was suspended because of shortage of passengers instead of fuel shortage.
“A total of 440 passengers can travel on the five coaches of the Kohat-bound train, but the average number of passengers is 230-250, hardly 50 percent of the total capacity, and it earns us no profit,” he said.
He admitted that the Railways’ Rawalpindi Division was procuring diesel from the open market for the past two months.
“The supply of diesel has started from Karachi, and will reach here late Sunday night,” he said.
However, Mr Shah failed to comment on the resumption of the suspended service and on plans to suspend other trains from Rawalpindi.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Khurshid Begum: The woman who defied the Taliban threats

Source The Express Tribune




Khurshid Begum Saeed’s admission into Parliament was fairly easy: the Awami National Party was compiling a list of women candidates for reserved seats in 2008 but did not have enough with a Bachelor’s degree. Someone suggested Khurshid Begum’s name and the rest is history.
However, while the entry was a smooth process, the ride has been anything but.
On May 16, 2012, she and her husband Saeed Shah, both ANP politicians from Kohat, were attacked by gunmen. Two persons were killed in the attack but the couple survived. This happened again on November 15.
Following the attacks, Shah received threats from militants warning him against his wife’s profession. “Tell your wife to sit at home or face the consequences,” read one message.
Khurshid Begum, however, remains undeterred. “Politics is the pinnacle of public service. I’m going to step outside to serve my people,” she said.
This time, she is running for a general seat – NA-14 (Kohat) — from ANP’s platform. Although her campaign has been suffering because of the Taliban’s threat to her party, she continues holding small gatherings and corner meetings in the villages of Kohat.
“There are some people who are scared but overall the morale of the voters is high,” she said. “When they see a woman campaigning, they are encouraged to vote.”
There are some areas in NA-14 where women have never voted before and Khurshid Begum is trying to turn that around. “These women are not aware of the importance of their votes,” she said. “I’ve convinced them that by voting they can play a major part in improving the conditions of their area.”
She claims to have spent her MNA discretionary funds on water, electricity and gas supply projects in Kohat, built a library and a press club and got grants for both the Kohat University of Sciences and Technology and a Centre for Special Education.
If elected, she vows to provide better education and health facilities for women in the rural areas, and wants to establish a cancer hospital in Kohat as well as completing a Burns Centre she initiated during the previous term.
“Please think about the impact of your vote and stop fearing the extremists,” she said, addressing potential voters. “Fear will only help terrorists usurp your freedom.  If you let them decide your fate, the future generation will have to bear the loss.”

Saturday, May 4, 2013

12 polling stations set up in Kohat for Fata IDPs

Source The Frontier Post

To poll vote in General Election 2013 on May 11, 2013, 46 Polling Booths in 12 Polling Stations have been established at District Kohat and Hangu for the IDPs of Orakzai Agency comes under jurisdiction of the Constituency NA-39(FATA). Reportedly, these polling stations will be for various tribes/Khel basis as per the details are follow. Polling Station for the IDPs of Orakzai
Agency NA-39(FATA) at GPS No.1 Baqeezai Kohat for Mamozai tribe (area belongs, Teezi, Akhoonkot, Ado Khel, Bar, Kam, Nawasi, Drak, Akhoonzadgom, Sama, Parachgan), 4 Polling Stations at Working Folks
Grammer School at Jerma Kohat, where, Khan, Mir, Garhi, Worri, Jabba, Dars Khel, Akhonzadgam, Arghujna, Mpoati, Gota Khel, Nasir, Nawasi, Panra, Manda, Umar, Babozoo Pkha, Landy Jani Khel, KhawasKhel, Shaway
Pila Khel, Bia, Balazwi, Karappa, Kharkai, will poll votes for election of National Assembly member of their respective constituency. Similarly, polling station at Govt Degree College for Boy No.2, Kohat for the IDPs of Ali Khen tribe (area belongs, Alaf Khen, Zankha Khel, Chappar, Ali Khel, Tapoos Kak, Ali Khan Gari,
Kago, Kamar, Badama Charkhio Kilay, Zor Kalay, Kronjki, Teeri, Ghoatak Khel, Ghotak Issa Khel will poll vote on May 11, 2013. In the District Hangu, well organized polling stations have also been arranged for poll day of General Elections 2013 for the IDPs of NA-39(FATA) Orkazai Agency at G.G.D.C Railway Road Road Hangu for Ali Khel tribe (area belongs, Kagni, Taghmni, Baghanak, Spidar,) G.P.S No.2 Zargeri Hangu
Ali Khel tribe( area belongs Bari Khel, Yousaf Khel, Kot Killi, Zakhtan Aghal, Chinar, Chokari), G.G.P.S Azizabad Zargeri Hangu Ali Khel tribe (area belongs, Baqi Koroona, Khaidzan, Stara Kadda, Kot, Moti, Chnna, Zakhfan, Manro, Pati, Dappar), polling station at Agency
Surgeion Office Orakzai Agency for Ali Khel tribe (area belongs, Taroopi, Sawaro Kot, Soroni, Gulchiri), G.M.S Raisaan Kohat Ali Khel tribe (area belongs, Badana, Gandi Tall, Bahana, Gali, Berooi, Dappar Tata Killi), "sources said".

Heavy weights to face off in NA-14 Kohat

Source The Frontier Post

Like the whole of Pakistan, in Kohat too, necessary arrangements for NA-14 have been completed by the District Election Commission, District Returning Officer and District Administration of Kohat. There are 409374 registered voters, out of which male 233544, female 175830 voters, total 378 polling stations are established, 76 are high sensitive, 116 sensitive and 186 normal. Total 1137 polling booths are established in 378 poling stations. Keeping in view the law and order situation, Army Quick Response ((QRF) force will be deployed in the high sensitive areas of Kohat. 
In Kohat, people of various castes such as Khattak, Afridi, Orakzai, Mohmand and Kurram Agency are residing. In the constituency of National Assembly (NA-14) Kohat, former District Nazim Seth Gohar Saif Ullah JUI(F), Former District Nazim Engineer Malik Muhammad Asad PML(N), Pir Dilawar Shah PPP, Khurshid Begum Saaed ANP, Qari Maulana Obaid Ullah Haidri MDM, Shehryar Afridi PTI, Muhammad Asif Bangash TTP,Sahibzada Pir Faheem JI, Muhammad Nawaz Bangash PMAP, Najeeb Durrani QWP, Najoomi Qadir Khan (Kabab Ferosh)MQM, and three independent candidates Malik Shamim Afridi, Dr. Ihsan and Nazia Zulfiqar will contest the general election 2013. Seth Gohar Saif Ullah candidate of JUI (F) is the son late Seth Saif Ullah, who was a well known social and political fihure of the area. His son is a young and energetic politician of the area and remained the District Nazim of Kohat earlier. 
On the other hand all the Religious Scholars (Ulamas), Taliban of Deeni Madaris, former Nazims and councilors of 32 Union Councils are also supporting him.
Thus the candidate of PML (N) from NA-14 Kohat, Engineer Malik Muhammad Asad has performed as District Nazim Kohat. He is highly educated and belongs to a notable family. He is the brother of late Malik Muhammad Saad (Shaheed) DIG Police and cousin of Malik Naveed Ex IGP. Engineer Asad is considered to be a very honest and good administrator. He has played a vital role in the establishment of BISE Kohat and Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST). With this, Ex Minister for Law, a great leader of PML (N) Iftikahr Gillani, and the District leadership of PML (N), MSF President Rabeel, Vice President Ihtisham ullah Bangash will not leave him alone. The candidate of PTI PK38-II (Kohat), Shehryar Afridi is the son of Nadir Shah Afridi, ex MNA of PML(N). He is a well educated and a talkative young person. 
Earlier, he was with PML (Q) during Pervez Musharaf Ex-President and now he has to contest the forthcoming election under PTI flag. He has vote bank of youngsters but due to influences and vote bank of Engiineer Malik Asad and Gohar SiafUllah may cause to make it critical for Shehryar of PTI to get an easy win. Similarly, Khursheed Begum Saeed of ANP is also competing in equal lines with the other parties. For the first time a female candidate from kohat is contesting election. She had been MNA on reserve seat of women.
Establishment of Modern Bacha Khan Library in Company Bagh Kohat and construction of Kohat Press Club are also her achievements. However, owing to failure of provincial government of ANP, internal contradiction, rampant terror attacks on ANP election campaign are to effect her political activities but she is hopeful that people keeping in mind developmental project will be rewarded her in the shape of votes. Pir Dilawar Shah has resigned from ANP and now he is to contest election of national assembly from PPP. 
He is the claimer of doing many developmental works including construction of Khushal Garh Bridge mega project in Kohat during his previous regime. On the other side, in PK-38-II (Kohat) former provincial minister and Divisional President Syed Qalb e Hassan, candidate of PPP is also expecting his well wishers to vote for him. Thus a strong independent candidate Malik Shamim Afridi is also facing the election, who, no doubt, irrespective of the constituency PK-37-I (Kohat) also completed various projects of gas supplies, electricity, water supply schemes and establishment of Male/Female Degree colleges in PK-38-II(Kohat. In addition to it, by the efforts of Senator Abbas Afridi, construction of Oil Refinery in District Kohat with the expenditure of 700 million dollars will provide a helping hand to the mentioned candidate i-e Shamim Afridi. 
Besides establishment of Sweet Homes for orphans and a handsome grant of Rs.30000000/- to the hospitals of Kohat, is a big achievement of Senator Abbas and due to above stated reasons, Malik Shamim Afridi has to get credit of the achievement of his sons, is poseed to contest general election 2013 as independent candidate. Qari Obaid KUllah Haideri MDM, is also in the electoral field for the second time and expecting votes from SSP, Ishaat-i-Tauheed wa Sunnah, JUI Nazriati group, JUI(S). Pir Faheem of JI under the party policy, Muhammad Asif Bangash TTP (the nascent politically party) and independent candidates Nazia Zulfiqar, Dr. Ihsan, Badshah Gul and Sher Rehman will contest the election of national assembly from Kohat, whereas the candidate of MQM Najoomi Qadeer Khan is a marvelous incident. All the candidate are in action and stepped up their election campaigns by attending public masses, coroner meetings, executing motor cycles and cars rallies to show their political support. Let see what happens on the poll day of 11th May 2013 and who will be the winner.