new traffic rules in Kohat

New traffic rules in Kohat have made the lives of common people difficult. There used to be smooth traffic to Kohat city from the Pindi, Bannu, Hangu and KDA roads. Now the authorities concerned have decided to make stops for local passenger pick-ups at Bannu gate and Peshawar Chowk. These new stops are about a kilometre and a half away from Kohat city. Thus a commuter has to pay double fare. This is an unnecessary financial and physical burden on a poor person. Furthermore, these new stops create traffic congestion.

The second problem is that Peshawar Chowk is the site of two previous bomb blasts. Usually the space was less crowded. Now, because of this new stopover, there is a constant rush of passengers at this spot. This is very unsafe from a security point of view.

Muhammad Usman Ali

Kohat

Refugees in Kohat demand extension in stay till 2020

Source Dawn

KOHAT: A jirga of Afghan refugees living in Kohat has demanded of the government to allow extension in their stay till 2020.

Addressing the jirga at Ghulam Banda refugee camp here, the maliks requested the Pakistani government to stop their expulsion and closure of schools in the camps, as it would destroy the future of their children.

They eulogised the good gesture of the government for granting them stay for 30 years with honour and dignity. They claimed that the current government in Afghanistan might not welcome them and there would be an imminent danger to their lives if they returned now.

The jirga was addressed by Maulana Zafar, Najmuddin, Noor Hassan, Malik Gul Ali and Malik Ghafoor and attended by a large number of refugees.

They accused the government in Afghanistan of playing in the hands of Nato and India which had no concern with their rehabilitation, but to establish an anti-Pakistan rule there. They said that the west and India wanted to create hatred and differences between Afghans and Pakistanis.

They demanded that the stay of illegal Afghans be extended till 2020 and of the card holders till 2025.

“We now consider Pakistan as our home and give all honour and respect to its institutions so the government should consider our demand on humanitarian basis,” the jirga members said.

A large number of Afghan refugees believe that the deadline of Dec 2016 for their return is false and they could leave whenever they like. One Gul Agha who owns a shop and his wife works as a maid in houses said that the government could not uproot their businesses and force them to vacate their houses to which were attached memories of their parents and grandparents.

Kohat: 4 dead, 3 injured as unidentified gunmen open fire at car

KOHAT (Dunya News) – Four people died whereas three were injured after unidentified gunmen open fire at a car in Kohat on Saturday, reported Dunya News.

Shakardara Nazim rural village council Munir Khan was travelling in his car along with his relatives towards his residence when unidentified gunmen opened fire at the car near Shakardara resulting in the deaths of Nazim Munir Khan, Attiq Rehman and his two sons, Shafiq and Rafiq.

Three people, including a lady and a young girl, got injured as a result of the incident. Police stated that the incident was the outcome of personal rivalry, adding that further investigation of the incident was being carried out.

Jirga threatens protest if refinery shifted from Kohat

KOHAT: Political leaders, councillors, lawyers and traders constituted a jirga to press the government to abandon the plan of shifting the proposed oil-refinery from Kohat to Karak district.

The jirga which was named as Kohat Jirga would hold talks with provincial and federal government and would create awareness among the masses about the importance of the oil-refinery in Kohat.

District Naizm Maulana Niaz Muhammad, Tehsil Nazim Malik Taimor Khan, former MNA Khurshid Begum, former Senator Abbas Afridi, JUI-F District President Jamil Paracha, District Bar President Javed Panchi, PML-N leader Haji Sher Khan, PPP District President Farid Khan, ANP leader Saeed Shah Bukhari, JI District President Qari Fateh Muhammad and trader leaders attended the jirga.

The participants termed the shifting of the oil-refinery a conspiracy against the people of Kohat.

They said that the previous government had announced the Rs 40 billion project. The OGDCL survey report had claimed that the lifespan of the oil wells in Kohat was 80 years while that of Karak is 25 years, they maintained.

PML-N protesters stop PTI rally in Kohat

PESHAWAR: Protesters belonging to the PML-N Sunday stopped the PTI’s Ehtesab rally from heading to Attock from Peshawar.

According to sources, the PTI workers from across the KP and Fata gathered in Peshawar to begin their Tehreek-e-Ehtesab rally towards Attock. However, when they reached Kohat, a large number of protesters belonging to the PML-N were on roads. The workers, burning tyres on roads at four different points, came face to face with participants of the PTI rally, compelling Imran’s supporters to change their route.

The PML-N supporters were being led by the party MNA Abbas Afridi; however, the PML-N senior leaders Talal Chaudhry claimed that the protest was joined by other parties as well. “The protest has nothing to do with PTI’s rally,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the ruling party is using ‘dirty tactics’ to halt the way of anti-government protesters. “Protest is our democratic right which could not be snatched.

Apparently to foil PTI’s political show, the ruling PML-N organised a public meeting in Peshawar Sunday. PTI’s protest march is part of the opposition’s efforts to press the government to launch probe into Panama Leaks, which involved offshore holdings of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family. According to our correspondent, PTI activists from all over KP and Fata reached Zakori Bridge to kick off the rally. Imran Khan addressed his supporters before formal start of the rally. He was accompanied by senior party leaders including Naeemul Haq, Jehangir Tareen and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The rally started heading towards Attock, where a large public meeting will be held in Khairabad area.