Clash over free flour distribution leaves four injured in Shangla.

SHANGLA -- Four persons including a policeman were injured in a clash between police and protesters over distribution of free flour in Maira area of Bisham tehsil on Thursday.

The clash erupted when protesters attempted to loot flour bags meant for free distribution among deserving people. Three protesters and a police constable were injured. Police vehicles were also damaged as angered protesters pelted stones at them.

Dandai SHO Fazal Elahi told Dawn that protesters, led by village council chairman Shah Zenat, blocked Karakoram Highway and attempted to loot flour bags being transported to Bisham from a flour mills. He said that protesters pelted stones at police when they tried to stop them from looting the flour truck.

Shah Zenat, who led the protest, said that they were protesting against the unjust distribution of flour and demanding establishment of more points but police started baton charge and injured several people.

Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Jawad Asif said that protesters also attacked police station in Dandai. He said that police resorted to firing in the air to disperse the protesters but the road remained blocked.

Demonstrators in Swabi and Bajaur want distribution mechanism changed

He said that road remained blocked for four hours. He said that the issue of flour distribution points was addressed in the talks between protesters and local administration. However, he said, protesters were demanding transfer of SHO Fazal Elahi, which was not possible.

He said that FIR was registered against some of the protesters, who attacked police van and police station. He said that some protesters were also arrested.

In Kohat, administration has finalised a comprehensive strategy for distribution of free flour by establishing separate points for women and elderly people.

The decision was taken to stop looting of flour trucks.

DPO Shehzada Umder Abbas Babar took the decision after visiting various distribution points on Thursday and witnessing the hardships being faced by women and elderly people, according to a statement.

He ordered deployment of 500 policemen at all the distribution points. He urged people to cooperate with police and get the flour in a disciplined manner.

In Swabi, Jamaat-i-Islami staged a protest demonstration against price hike and irregularities in free distribution of wheat flour among deserving people.

The JI workers were also joined by a large number of common people, who chanted slogans against the officials...