LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami on Monday warned of protests if unannounced and prolonged power outages were not done away with.

In a statement issued here, JI Lower Dir information secretary Malik Sher Bahadar Khan said residents of Timergara, especially New Timergara, were suffering due to hours-long unscheduled loadshedding.

He alleged that the Pesco staff intentionally disconnected power supply at night and restored it at their discretion, callingthe practice unjust and abusive.

He demanded the immediate replacement of Pesco SDO and his staff with `honest and duty-bound` officers.

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS: Parents in Manogay area on Monday complained about shortage of teaching staff at the government higher secondary school.

They said with over 330 students enrolled, the school was operating without two secondary school teachers (general), two certified teachers, and a physicaleducation teacher.

Parents said the teachers` shortage was affecting students` academic progress and overburdening the current staff.

They criticised the provincial government`s educational emergency claims and warned they would shift their children to private institutions if the vacancies were not filled immediately.