KHAR: The electric supply to many tehsils of Bajaur Agency has been suspended for the last seven days, complained local residents on Saturday.

They told Dawn that Nawagai, Barang, Salarzai, War Mamond and Utmankhel had seen a power blackout since last Saturday to their misery in the month of fasting.

The people complained the prolonged power outage had caused water shortage forcing the people to fetch water from far-flung areas.

They criticised the water and power ministry for failing to keep its promise of ensuring smooth power supply during Sehr and Iftar hours in the region. The residents also flayed the local administration for not providing drinking water to them through water bowsers as happened in the past.

They insisted that the Tribal Electric Supply Company discriminated against the people living in areas away from Khar, where electric supply was almost uninterrupted for being inhabited by influential people.

The people demanded the immediate restoration of electricity.A Tesco official insisted that power supply had been suspended in line with the orders of the administration and company`s top bosses just to ensure provision of uninterrupted electricity to Khar and adjoining areas.

He however said the problem would begin easing on next Wednesday.

CNICS` VERIFICATION: The political administration on Friday began the long-awaited process to verify the blocked Computerised National Identity Cards of the residents in Bajaur Agency.

Bajaur Agency assistant political agent Anwarul Haq told reporters here that the exercise was carried out on the directives of the interior ministry, National Database and Registration Authority and Fata secretariat.

He said initially, the CNICs verification would t ake place in Nawagai, Chamarkand, War Mamond, Lovi Mamound and Barang tehsils and later, it would be carried out in the rest of the three tehsils. Correspondent