K-P - FATA News Updates and Insights

A consultative workshop on Peshawar Prosperity Plan was organized with the objective of holding discussion on economic development of Peshawar and Khyber-Pakhtunwa. According to a press statement issued here on Saturday, the workshop was jointly organized by Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) here at a local hotel. The SMEDA and CGPA are jointly developing Peshawar Prosperity Plan under the project ‘Mobilizing Economic Reformers to Keep Critical Civic Space Open in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province’. Stakeholders from industries, academia, civil society and government departments participated in the workshop. During the discussion, tangible projects and interventions were suggested for the development of SME sector in the province. It was also agreed that a comprehensive report on Peshawar prosperity plan will be developed in light of these suggestions and be shared with concerned departments for further implementation. It merits a mention here that Peshawar Prosperity Five Year Plan (PP5P) aims at developing actionable and realistic targets for the five years which can contribute to improving business ecosystem in Peshawar. Ten thematic areas have been identified for PP5P through intense stakeholders’ engagement through Public Private Dialogues (PPDs). These thematic areas included Entrepreneurship Development, Availability of Adequate Industrial Infrastructure, Improving Awareness Regarding Relevant Laws, Rules and Regulations, Simplified Laws, Rules and Regulation, Marketing and Linkages Development, Capacity Building of SMEs, Easy access to Finance, Ease in Licensing, NOCs, Registrations, Documentation, Introduction of Modern Technology, Technical and Vocational Skill and Improving Business Ecosystem for Women Entrepreneurs. Improvement in the above 10 areas can bring tangible results in improving the overall business ecosystem and can help improve the economic development, adds the press release. Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2023.

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) has warned of a country-wide strike and protest against the attitude of University of Peshawar (UoP) management. In a press statement issued on Sunday, FAPUSA said that employees and teachers of UoP have been on a strike against the attitude of university administration and vice chancellor without inviting any attention from the quarters concerned. “This is for the third time in the past few months that the staffers are protesting but the attitude of the management is unfortunate,” says the statement, adding that all the genuine demands of the university employees and teachers should be accepted. “Let us make it clear that we stand with the UoP employees and in the event of a prolonged protest and sit-in, FAPUASA will call a general body meeting to decide on province-wide or even country-wide protest,” added the statement. Protest walk announced On the other hand the joint action council (JAC) of UoP teachers and other staffers on Sunday announced a protest walk on University Road. Talking to The Express Tribune officials of JAC said that teachers and staffers of all the universities located inside the UoP campus, known as greater campus, have been invited to participate. They made it clear that their protest will continue till the acceptance of all their demands. “The protesters are going to march on the administration block of the UoP and the administration of the varsity will be responsible for any untoward incident,” said an official, adding that no pressure will be tolerated in this regard. It may be mentioned here that teaching and non-teaching staff of the UoP started a protest on March 7 against the killing of a private security supervisor Saqlain Bangash. Bangash was killed inside the university campus when allegedly a guard dropped his gun and it fired hitting the supervisor. Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2023.

As the government grapples with burgeoning public expenditure amidst a deepening financial crisis, a delay in funding for dengue prevention risks instigating a health crisis. According to the Dengue Control Manager, Dr. Qasim Afridi, the government has delayed transferring funds worth Rs350 million for the prevention and awareness campaign for dengue. This comes as a bolt out of the blue for the health authorities who were expecting further assistance from the government following the recent rise in cases of dengue fever. “Dengue cases usually peak during the months of April and May in K-P, however 10 have already been reported just at the beginning of March,” said a source from the Health Department. While dengue fever poses a threat to the health and safety of all citizens, those residing in areas like Peshawar, Mardan, Haripur, Khyber and Nowshera face a doubled threat given the topography of the regions where standing bodies of glacial water act as breeding grounds for the larvae of the dengue mosquitos. Therefore, in case preventative measures are not taken beforehand for eliminating the larvae in these regions, the virus risks spreading into other nearby areas. As Ali Khan, a local from the Palosai area of Peshawar confirmed, “A majority of the dengue cases reported from K-P originated in our locality. Why does the government not take the matter seriously,” he questioned. The direness of the situation is evident in the fact that up to 23,000 dengue cases including 18 deaths were reported in K-P last year. While Dr. Afridi asserts that the healthcare system in K-P is equipped to deal with a dengue epidemic, he still stresses the importance of preventing an outbreak in the first place, since once the disease becomes endemic, it can trigger a crisis beyond the countering capabilities of the hospitals. Therefore, in order to actualize the preventative goals, the Larva Surveillance campaign had been initiated across the province from January 2023 onwards, with weekly meetings being held involving the Deputy Commissioner and District Health Officer,” said Dr Afridi. In these campaigns locals were educated on the ways in which dengue can be prevented, especially with regards to the usage of mosquito nets and repellants. On a similar note, fogging and spraying was carried out on a large scale to destroy the larva in stagnant water. Following the government’s inability to deliver funds on time, the Larva Surveillance Campaign had to utilize last year’s funds worth Rs104 million. “While our teams are educating the general public to the best of our abilities, the government must realize its duties towards the people and must invest in their well-being by transferring the allocated funds in a timely manner,” concluded Dr Afridi. Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2023.

The World Bank would provide $90 million to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for control and prevention of non-communicable diseases in the province. Dr Javed Sattar, Coordinator Health Sector Reforms told APP that the provincial government was working on a mega project for the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases, and preparation of its PC-I was in the final stage. He said WB has pledged to provide $90 million for the project, which would be completed in five years in the province. DHQs and THQs hospitals were being strengthened in terms of equipment, infrastructure, labs and staff in 32 districts of K-P with financial assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB), he said. He added that out of $100 million committed by ADB, $25 million has been so far received for the project that would be completed by 2026. Dr Sattar said five members’ primary healthcare management committees for THQs and hospitals management committees at DHQs with representatives of doctors, LG representatives, civil society member and technicians were formed for speedy and transparent utilization of funds and financially supporting poor patients suffering from chronic diseases. Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2023.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Central Amir Sirajul Haq on Sunday joined hands with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), at least on the issue of general elections, and demanded holding of polls on the same day across the country under an independent judiciary, election commission and an impartial establishment. Addressing an aman jalsa, as part of the tribal rights movement, in the Bara area of Khyber tribal district, Siraj said that the PDM and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments were responsible for the prevailing economic crisis and the runaway inflation in the country. “The establishment creates conflicts among politicians and then different factions begin to fight each other,” he said, adding that these brutal tactics could not be tolerated anymore. The JI chief demanded that the elections should be held on a single day across the country but impartial establishment was also a must to hold transparent elections. “There should be an independent judiciary and an independent election commission to make sure that the vote is held in a free and fair manner,” he stressed, adding if this is not the case then elections will be just a waste of time. Siraj said that there is widespread destruction and despair in the tribal districts but the ruling elite have deviated from the promises made at the time of merger for the development of the tribal areas. He maintained that the education and health sectors had been destroyed in militancy which needed to be rehabilitated on war footing. “If we are voted to power, we will provide free education to the people like in the past,” he maintained. The JI amir shared that if tribal people do not get justice, the courts should be locked. He alleged that eighteen families of the ruling parties own assets worth Rs4,000 billion which they collected through corruption. Criticizing Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other PDM leaders, Siraj said that they staged protest against inflation during the PTI government but after getting power, he could not see the current situation of inflation. The JI chief alleged that PTI was in power in the province for the last 9 years but did not develop the province. He stated that the province had gone bankrupt as corruption increased by the day. He stressed that people should trust the responsible leadership of JI by voting for the party to get the country out of the current economic problems. Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2023.

At least seven people, including the Tehsil Nazim and PTI leader, Atif Munsif Khan Jadoon, were killed in a rocket attack and firing on a vehicle in Haveliyan, a town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Haripur district on Monday. The unidentified assailants targeted the vehicle with a rocket and opened fire as a result of which seven people were killed, officials said. According to the police, unidentified persons ambushed the vehicle in the Langra area, a point between Haripur and Abbottabad when Atif Munsif was returning to his home. The PTI’s leader car also caught fire in the attack and seven people including his security guards were killed after armed men opened fire. The attack also spread fear in the area. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot and shifted the bodies to the hospital. Also read: Islamabad police arrest 198 PTI supporters as crackdown continues The deceased tehsil nazim was the son of former MPA Haji Munsif Khan. According to the police, the incident seems to be a result of family feud. Police have registered a case against the unidentified accused. Authorities said they were facing difficulty in identifying the victims as their bodies were burnt in the attack. The bodies will be handed over to their families after identification, they added. According to DPO Umar Tufail, three people were also injured in the incident.

Reports regarding the resignation of caretaker Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan over differences with Governor Haji Ghulam Ali were doing the rounds on Monday. However, the K-P CM House spokesperson termed the reports regarding Azam’s resignation rumours, saying it’s just a propaganda being circulated on social media due to his differences with Governor Ali. “The governor is biased. It is not possible to conduct a free and fair election with him [on the post],” the spokesperson said quoting caretaker CM Azam. The reports circulating on social media quoted the chief minister saying: “When the governor has all the power, what is my need.” Also read: Body for reforms in Sehat Card formed The spokesperson said that there was no truth in the reports about the resignation of the caretaker chief minister, “it is just a rumour”. Further, reports of differences between the caretaker CM and the chief secretary were also being circulated on social media. PTI moves SC against K-P governor, ECP Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani on Monday filed a contempt petition against the K-P governor and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not announcing the date of elections in the province, saying it is a violation the Supreme Court (SC) order. The petition maintained that the governor “willfully chose to ignore the exalted status of his high constitutional office”, adding that he is “already in breach of his constitutional responsibilities and that he must appoint the date for holding the general election to the K-P Assembly”. The PTI leader requested the court to initiate judicial proceedings against the governor and “punish him accordingly”. Ghani also requested the apex court to get its order – announcing the election date – implemented. “Respondent 1 [K-P governor] is not willing or ready to appoint such date, this Honorable Court may either direct that President or any other suitable functionary to appoint such date for poll or fix the date itself, as has been done in a previous election,” the petition concluded. Also read: Constitution gives me immunity: K-P governor Sixty-two days have passed since the K-P Assembly was dissolved, but the date of the election has not yet been announced. The apex court had also ordered the governor to give the date for polls in the province. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court announced its verdict after two-day-long proceedings in the case regarding the delay in the announcement of the date for provincial elections in Punjab and K-P. The apex court ordered that elections in both assemblies should be held in the next 90 days, with the chief justice saying: "Democracy cannot exist without assemblies."

Pakistan Sports Festival 2023 concluded with great enthusiasm in Dir, Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand & Khyber on Monday. The festival started on February 1 with the collaboration of district administrations and Frontier Corps (FC) North. Closing ceremonies were held separately in respective districts, with FC North Inspector General Major General Noor Wali Khan as the chief guest at the Khyber district's closing ceremony. The players marched while children performed various tableaus and gymnastics. Local artists performed traditional Khattak, Mehsud, and Chitrali dances and band played different traditional songs. The festival had a total of 971 teams and 9,375 players from various schools, madrasas and colleges participating in various sports activities. They included cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, badminton, cycling and various snow sports. For the first time, cricket and wheelchair matches for differently abled persons were also held during the festival. At the closing ceremony, FC North IG gave away prizes and trophies to the best teams and players who excelled in the healthy event that was attended by a large number of youth, elders, senior civil & military officials and other guests.

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao said on Monday that solution to all the problems of the province lies in provincial autonomy. He said concrete measures should be taken to remove the difficulties faced by the provinces, including relief for the deprivations of the provinces and the restlessness of the people by fully implementing the 18th Amendment. He expressed these views while addressing a gathering in the Mirza Dher area of district Charsadda. On this occasion, officials and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Haider Ali, Fakir Mama, Bahrullah, Muslimur Rehman, Naseer, Gulfraz, Yasir, Dawood, Sulaiman, Ijaz, Yasin, Yusuf Gul, John Sher, Shakeel, Nahar, Shahid Khan and Shahzad, along with their colleagues and families, joined the QWP. Sherpao demanded immediate payment of the arrears of the province's resources and hydropower net profit, saying that poverty and backwardness have piled up in the province. He said that the dream of a strong and stable federation cannot be realised until the units of the country are economically stable, so measures should be taken to remedy the deprivations of the provinces. He criticised the previous government and said that due to the “incompetence” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), “even a country like Bangladesh” has overtaken Pakistan in economic development. He said that inflation and unemployment are increasing and the people are also worried about getting two square meals a day. He added that the blood of the poor people is being sucked in the form of taxes. The QWP leader said that instead of putting more burden on the people, the rulers should take steps to reduce their expenses.

The caretaker government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has contacted the Punjab government with a request to remove ban on the delivery of flour and all other obstacles immediately. The caretaker government has also started implementation of the Ramazan package worth Rs19.77 billion for 36.8 million people registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in the province, whereby 5.7 million households would be supplied 30kg flour each. Apart from the establishment of more than 7,600 sale points, other points have also been set up at 1,600 Utility Stores from where flour can be obtained by showing the card. Minister for Food and Irrigation Fazl Elahi and Minister of Information Barrister Feroze Jamal Kakakhel, while addressing a press conference at the food department, said that the prime minister announced the provision of free ration in Ramazan, in continuation of which the government is also starting the free ration programme. “Due to floods and poverty, people are facing economic difficulties, and despite these difficulties, we are giving packages,” he said. “We produced 1.3 million tonnes of wheat,” he said. Food Minister Elahi said that this year, the government gave a subsidy of Rs35 billion to PASCO and bought wheat. During the month of Ramazan, from Rs19.77 billion, the government will give flour to 5.7 million families or 36.8 million people under BISP, and 7,600 sale points will be established, alongside 1,600 points at Utility Stores, he added. Every eligible family will need to bring original identity card, those who are not registered in BISP can apply and get registered within 24 hours, he further said. The food minister said that currently the subsidised supply has been stopped and the Ramazan package will be implemented. Subsidised flour supply will resume after Ramazan, he added. He also asked philanthropists to help the poor and asked hoarders and those who sell things at expensive rates to change their behaviour. Secretary food said that flour will be given on BISP card. “This is a targeted subsidy. Every household will get it once, we will do full monitoring so that there is no problem,” he added. “The federal government has provided BISP data and linked us with Utility Stores.” Three bags of 10 kg will be given to the beneficiaries in a month, he said. The secretary said that K-P procures 75 percent wheat from Punjab and other sources while it produces 25 percent itself. Earlier, there were some issues related to the availability of wheat flour last month. This had prompted Caretaker Minister for Communications and Works (C&W) Muhammad Ali Shah to order redressal of complaints related to flour distribution in the Malakand Division. Reports like these give rise to the speculations that there might be some cases of mismanagement.

At least nine people were killed and 44 injured in Khyber-Pakhktunkhwa (K-P) after a strong earthquake jolted many parts of the country on Tuesday evening. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centred in the Hindu Kush mountains, near the Jurm village in northeastern Afghanistan, but the depth of 187 kilometres mitigated extensive damage. The quake, which struck around 09:30 pm on Tuesday and lasted more than 30 seconds, was felt from central Asia to New Delhi in India -- more than 2,000 km away. It was felt by some 285 million people in Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said nine people had been killed in the quake, including two women and two children. At least 180 people, who suffered minor injuries, were taken to hospitals across K-P, Shahidullah Khan, a senior government official, told AFP. Police officer Shafiullah Gandapur in Swat said that a 13-year-old girl died when a wall of her house collapsed, while 150 people were injured across the district. He added that an emergency had been declared at the hospitals in the district. "It was a powerful earthquake and we feared maximum damage due to the intensity -- that's why we issued an alert," Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Pakistan's emergency Rescue 1122 service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told AFP. "But fortunately our fears proved wrong. Residents panicked due to the magnitude of the earthquake, but the damage was minimal”. Senior provincial official Abdul Basit said that in addition to the dead and injured, at least 19 houses were damaged. Khudadad Heights, a vast multi-storey residential block in Islamabad, was evacuated after huge cracks appeared in the building. Read At least two dead as powerful quake jolts most parts of Pakistan "The children started shouting that there is an earthquake. We all ran out. The horrors of the earthquake in Turkey and neighbouring countries had a strong effect on our nerves," said Ikhlaq Kazmi, a retired professor in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority to be ready to deal with any emergency. Reports from different parts of the country said tremors were felt in several cities, including Islamabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. After the earthquake, frightened people fled their homes and came out in the open. The PDMA in Punjab said that more than 18 districts were jolted but no loss of life was reported. However, a PDMA spokesperson said that cracks had appeared in some high-rise buildings in Rawalpindi. Read more Magnitude 6.8 earthquake shakes Ecuador, at least 14 deaths reported Panicked residents of cities and towns in Afghanistan and Pakistan also fled their homes to seek safety away from buildings -- with many too scared to return. In Afghanistan, officials reported four dead and 50 injured -- but phone and internet links to remote parts of the country had been severed and communication patchy. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said health centres across the country had been put on high alert. In the Afghan capital Kabul, shopkeeper Noor Mohammad Hanifi set up tents in the street for his family to spend the night in. "Nobody dares to go inside their homes," Hanifi told AFP as his family, cloaked in blankets, took shelter. "We stayed the night in our courtyard... it was cold outside, but we preferred to stay out rather than go back," 24-year-old student Neda Raihan told AFP in Kabul. Many families were out of their homes celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, when the quake struck. "I heard people screaming and yelling as they came out in the streets," said Masieh, who was outside with his family when the tremor hit. Afghanistan is in the grips of a humanitarian disaster made worse by the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021. International development funding on which the country relied dried up after the takeover and assets held abroad were frozen. Large parts of South Asia are seismically active because a tectonic plate known as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate. A 6.1 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan killed more than 1,000 people last year. In 2005, at least 73,000 people were killed by a 7.6 magnitude quake that struck northern Pakistan.

The Peshawar District Bar Association (PDBA) has expressed concern over the no-go area at Peshawar Cantonment, saying that if the “illegal blockades and gates” are not removed, the lawyers will be forced to protest strongly as there is no scope in the Constitution for installation of gates on public roads and places. The first meeting of the newly elected cabinet of PDBA was held under the chairmanship of Ashfaq Ahmed Khalil, in which Vice President Naveed Ali Shah and General Secretary Iftikhar Hussain Samandar Advocate participated. In the meeting on Tuesday, concern was expressed over the no-go area at Peshawar Cantonment, saying that there is no provision in the Constitution for the installation of gates on public roads and illegal blockades at places. “Lawyers are the defenders of the Constitution and are against any unconstitutional measures.” It was unanimously decided that the cantonment administration should remove the illegal and unnecessary blockades and gates.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan took up the province’s financial problems issues with the federal government, requesting the Centre to clear its billions of rupees dues, sources said on Monday. Chief Minister Khan sent an official letter to the prime minister, seeking federal government’s special support to help the province reduce its financial difficulties, according the sources. It had been stated in the letter, the sources said, the federation had agreed to provide funds for the development and non-development budgets of the merged districts of former Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). In this regard, the letter said, the Centre owed Rs144 billion to the province since fiscal year 2019. Besides, Rs469 billion was still outstanding under the head of the Accelerated Development Programme (AIP) of the merged districts, it added. Furthermore, the letter reminded the Centre about Rs25 billion in terms of federal tax assessment; another Rs50 billion in the form of net profits of hydel power, and Rs2.5 billion against the province’s share of oil and gas royalty. The caretaker chief minister stated that Rs935 million was required for the timely construction of four under-construction dams under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in the province. The chief minister requested the federal government to provide Rs10 billion for the relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people; and restore 100 mmcf of gas allocated for power generation. The chief minister also requested the prime minister to present the issues of payment of net profit of electricity to the province as per the Qazi Committee formula in the next meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Earlier, to put an end to the financial crunch faced by the province, the K-P finance department had presented various recommendations to be taken up with the federal government which include, but not limited to; an immediate revision of the share of K-P province in the 7th NFC Award, in the context of the merger of the erstwhile FATA with the province by adding the population of 2017 census to the 7th NFC formula, strict implementation of Article 151 of the constitution by all the federating units so that no unit should take any arbitrary legislative or executive action restricting trade and interprovincial movement of goods especially wheat and immediate rehabilitation of CRBC. “There would be no compromise on the legitimate rights of the province and every effort would be made to take up the issue with the federal government in order to solve these issues on permanent basis,” the chief minister observed.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province was the hardest hit by a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that jolted most parts of the country late on Tuesday. “At least 180 people, who suffered minor injuries, have been taken to hospitals across K-P,” Shahidullah Khan, a senior government official, told AFP. K-P’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed two fatalities in the province. Police officer Shafiullah Gandapur in Swat said that a 13-year-old girl died when the wall of her house collapsed, while 150 people were injured across the district. He added that emergency was declared at hospitals in the district. Other reports from the province said that at least five members of a family were injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Swabi, while the KalamBahrain Road was blocked due to a landslide caused by the earthquake. At least 29 people, including women and children, were injured in roof and wall collapse incidents in the Malakand Division and other areas. A 90-metre-long wall around a police station also collapsed but did not cause any casualties. Meanwhile, emergency was declared at Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital and other hospitals in Swat district as dozens of people injured in earthquake-related incidents were being brought in. According to initial reports, infrastructure was damaged in upper Swat and Kalam-Bahrain Road was blocked at several points due to land sliding triggered by the earthquake.

The Peshawar High Court has ordered the education secretary to ensure the payment of salaries to all those teachers who meet the education department’s criteria, saying that Ramazan is approaching and it is not good not to pay them and submit a report till Tuesday. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Qaisar Rashid and Justice Ijaz Anwar heard a writ petition filed against the non-payment of salaries to teachers of Basic Education Community Schools Malakand. As the proceedings began, the counsel for the petitioners apprised the court that the teachers had not been getting their salaries for 20 months. The chief justice wondered that there was money to pay the officers but none for the teachers. “Call the education secretary, director and advocate general. The court will resume hearing of this case shortly.” After recess when the court resumed, the education secretary, director, and Assistant Advocate General Syed Sikandar Hayat Shah appeared in court. The education secretary apprised the court that these schools were given to them by the federal government without any funding. “There are a total of 1,531 schools with 1,631 teachers.” He said that most of the teachers had intermediate and matriculation degrees and “our requirement is BA (Bachelor of Arts)”. The secretary said that many schools had been established by people in their living rooms where three to five children were studying. The chief justice said, “What solution can be found in this situation?” The secretary said that he would go and conduct a survey himself and submit a report. The chief justice directed them to give salaries to those who met the criteria of the education department. “Ramazan is coming and it is not good not to the pay employees during these days. You should submit your report by Tuesday and those who are eligible should be paid.” The court adjourned the hearing till Tuesday.

The Thall police in Hangu district have arrested a man for killing his four-year-old daughter after he failed to convince his wife to return home. DPO Hangu, Asif Bahadur, told media persons during a press conference that a woman named Saadia Bibi lodged a report with police on March 13 that her daughter was missing from home. She alleged that her second husband, Faraz, was involved in the abduction of her daughter. She said she was living with her mother along with her daughter while her jobless husband was in Hangu. She further told police that her husband had come to her mother's house to take her back, but she refused as her husband was unable to provide them with the necessities of life. She said her husband most probably took her daughter to Hangu with him, following which the girl was missing. The police arrested the man who confessed to the crime and said he had thrown his four-year-old daughter into the Indus River near Attock after killing her. Regretting his action during the investigation, he told police that he wanted to take revenge on his wife for her irresponsive attitude. Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.

The students of the University of Peshawar and their parents on Wednesday deplored undue closure of University of Peshawar (UoP) from the last three weeks and urged the Governor Haji Ghulam Ali and chancellor of the university to take notice of the issue. They said that a strike by teachers and other faculty of the university in the wake of the killing of a security supervisor followed by unplanned spring vacations had wasted a lot of their time. They said that approximately 15,000 students were enrolled with the UoP and had paid millions of rupees under the heads of tuition fees, admission, examination, hostels charges, transport, security and others but still their precious time was being wasted by the university administration on one pretext or the other. Danial Aziz, a student of the varsity said the protesting faculty had warned to prolong their strike till Eid if their demands were not met, adding that in strife between university administration and teaching faculty, the students were suffering, and no authority was ready to realise that the precious time and semester of students would be wasted if the strike continues. Different students' unions had also staged a camp at the main gate of the university and blocked it for all kinds of traffic for the early reopening of the university and revival of educational activities. Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) issued stay order on Wednesday against making changes in the seniority list of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police officials on 110 petitions filed by the affected cops. A two-member bench, comprising Justice SM Ateeq Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, issued the injunction order and sought replies from the inspector general (IG) of the police and the provincial chief secretary. During the hearing, Barrister Dr Adnan Khan appeared on behalf of the petitioners and raised two points in his arguments. He pointed out that there was out-of-turn promotions of mostly those who earned honours during the performance of their duties. This rule, he said, was applicable in all police forces but now those cadets were being demoted to bring them on the merit of other officials. He added that a larger PHC bench had already directed the provincial government to review the relevant laws. Also, the lawyer pointed out that in the 1980s, the then IG had issued a standing order that if someone spent three years as an instructor in Hangu, he would be given an out-of-turn promotion. Therefore, those policemen could not be brought at par with others. Barrister Adnan Khan said that there were two separate decisions of the Supreme Court in 2013 and 2017 regarding ending the out-of-turn promotion policy, but added that both the decisions were related to the police forces of Punjab and Sindh. Now, the K-P police were demoting their decorated officers and those who promoted in the 1980s on the basis of these decisions. He pleaded with the court that once a policy was framed and someone benefited, it could not be withdrawn. Later, the court issued the injunction order in this matter, staying any change in the seniority list of police officers. The bench sought replies from the IG and the chief secretary and adjourned further hearing of the case till April 4. CCI asked to include regional languages in census A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), comprising Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, while hearing a petition filed to include some languages spoken in different regions of the country in the census, sent the matter to the Council of Common Interests (CCI). It also issued instructions to the council that after reviewing all the issues, the council should take steps to include these languages in the census form. During the hearing, Shahid Ali Yeftali, the counsel for the petitioners, told the court that a new census is currently being conducted across the country. Three regional languages are not included in the census form, thus depriving their speakers of the opportunity of being counted, so the court should issue an order to include them in the census form. After the arguments were completed, the bench issued an order to refer the matter to the CCI and issued instructions to the council It directed that after reviewing all the issues, steps should be taken to include these languages in the census form. Orderly distribution of free flour stressed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan on Wednesday took notice of mismanagement in the distribution of free government flour in some parts of the province. He has directed the Food Department and all district administrations to take necessary steps for the orderly distribution of flour, ensuring that there are no complaints of maladministration. With the month of Ramazan upon us, the chief minister emphasised the need to make the distribution of flour easy for people across the province. He also directed for making every effort to ensure that people do not face any problems in obtaining flour. To ensure transparency in the distribution process, he stressed the need for the strict implementation of laid-down procedures. Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2023.

With the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan, professional peddlers have set up camps at the markets of the city, due to which people coming for shopping, especially women, are facing serious problems. The authorities concerned appeared to have turned a blind eye in this regard, and due to these beggars, deserving people were also deprived of the charity and zakat. The presence of a large number of professional beggars at the busiest markets and areas of the city during the holy month of Ramazan has become a challenge for the authorities concerned. While these beggars were also involved in theft, the citizens demanded that relief should be provided to the people by devising a plan to wipe them out from the markets. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2023.

Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, after taking over the post of the chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), held the meeting of the central committee in Peshawar for the third consecutive year to sight the moon for the holy month of Ramazan, thus ensuring uniformity across the country. Under the chairmanship of Mufti Muneebur Rahman, the former chairman of the RHC, a meeting of the committee was held on April 23 to sight the moon. The central committee declared April 25 as the first day of fasting, but Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai’s committee declared April 24 as the first day of fasting. The nation thus stood divided on the matter. However, in 2021, Maulana Azad took over the position and held a meeting on April 14. The date he announced was observed across the country. In 2022, he once again held a meeting in Peshawar on April 3 and ensured the same day of fasting across the country. This year as well, the central committee meeting was held in Peshawar on Wednesday, and the start of the holy month was announced from Thursday. While the controversy surrounding the start of Ramazan seems to have been sorted out, there has been a lack of consensus over Eidul Fitr for the past two years. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2023.

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