MANSEHRA: The district administration of Mansehra has begun inquiry against the corruption complaints against the Tehsil Municipal Administration officials.

`I ordered inquiry after receiving complaints against the TMA officials for receiving kickbacks to contract Rs70 million development schemes to favourite people last weel(,` deputy commissioner Mansehra Iqbal Hussain told reporters here on Tuesday.

Mr. Hussain said Tehsil Municipal Officer Arif Baloch was appointed theinquiry ofhcerto ascertainifthe suspects received kickbacks for awarding the contract.

He said the suspects would dealt with under the law if the corruptioncharge was proved against them.

The DC said the provincial government was serious about ending corruption from its departments, especially during the award of development scheme contracts, so inquiry had been launched to ensure corruption-free execution of TMA schemes.

PROTEST: Scores of people and local government representatives on Tues day took to the streets in Kaghan valley against the use of alleged substandard material in the construction and blacktopping of Kaghan Road.

The protesters, who assembled in Mahandri area of the valley, shouted slogans against the National Highway Authority over the irregularity.

Nazim of the Jamal Mari village council Haji Shah Zaman said the NHA had used substandard material in the construction and blacktopping of Mahandri-Khanian section of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

He said he had taken up the issue with the NHA high-ups, but not to avail.`We are on the streets to demand probe into this corruption for action against the culpable officials,` he said.

Kamal Ban village council nazim Abdul Qudus said the local government had long been in place, so the councillors won`t allow anyone to deprive the people of civic amenities.

`We want nothing but probe into the construction of this key road.

Heavy snowfall in the valley damages roads and if substandard material is used, the roads will in bad shape in no time. We`ll not let this happen,` he said.

OATH TAKEN: Sajjad Hussain Shah on Tuesday took the oath as the new district chief of the Jamaat-iIslami.

Provincial deputy chief of the JI Noorul Haq administered the oath to him during a special ceremony here at the party`s secretariat.

Mr. Shah, who was elected for the next two years, said the party would continue working for the enforcement of Islamic laws in the country to protect the people`s rights.