MINGORA, Dec 8: The local chapter of Awami National Party (ANP) youth wing staged a rally here on Sunday in support of Asfandyar Wali Khan and vowed to frustrate conspiracies against the party leadership.

Led by National Youth Organisation (NYO) coordinator Dr Iftikhar Shah, the participants of the rally marched on different roads. They were carrying placards and chanting slogans against `the conspirators`.

The NYO leaders addressed the participants of the rally when they reached Swat Press Club. They said that some people were hatching conspiracies against Asfandyar Wali Khan, who deserved to lead ANP.

They said that it was necessary for Begum Nasim Wali Khan to struggle first for restoration of her party membership and then take part in its elections. They said that they would not allow anyone to get leadership of the party through undemocratic means. Meanwhile addressing ANP workers at the party office, former MPA Sher Shah Khan said that workers were united in the leadership of Asfandyar Wali Khan. The leaders and workers of ANP rendered great sacrifices for restoration of peace in Swat, he added.

PROTES11 The residents of Rang Mohallahstaged a protest demonstration here on Sunday against the municipal committee for what they called its failure to resolve the problem of water shortage in the area.

The protesters were led by a local elder Mohammadi Khan. Carrying water pots and gas cylinders, they came on the road along with their children and blocked it for about three hours.

Chanting slogans against the authorities, the protesters said that illegal water connections caused severe shortage of drinking water in the area. Fawad, 12, told Dawn that he and his brothers usually went to school without taking breakfast as supply of water and gas was suspended to their home since long.

Carrying a water pot, 10-year-old Manahel said that she did not know as to where she could get water, `My brothers and I wear dirty uniforms at school as water supply has been suspended to their area for the last three months,` she added.

KlLLED: Unidentified persons shot dead a jeweller at Fateh Khankhel Bazaar here on Sunday.

Police said that Iftikhar Ahmad was present in his shop when he was shot dead by unidentified persons. He received seven bullets and was killed on spot, they added. -Correspondent