MANSEHRA: The people of Oghi have complained the tehsil`s only degree college for boys has denied many children the intermediate course admissions over the limited seating capacity.

They demanded the start of evening shift at the college to accommodate all candidates.

`Over 1,000 students applied for admission to FA and FSc classes but only 240 of them got admission as there`re limited seats available,` Mohammad Farooq, father of a candidate, told reporters in Oghi on Tuesday. He said the start of evening shift could help accommodate the candidates, who didn`t get admission to intermediate classes.

`Most of the students denied admission are poor people so they can`t afford to go to other parts of the district for education. If the PTI government is sincere about promoting education in our tehsil, it should ensure the immediate start of evening shift at this college,` he said.

He criticised the government to failing to execute the plan to upgrade the high school in Oghi prompting many students to drop out. Another child`s father, Saeedur Rehman, said the successive governments ignored education sector in the tehsil to the misery of local residents.

He said the PTI government insisted education and health sectors in the province had seen a positive change since its formation but the denial of admissions to Oghi degree college mocked the claim.

Mohammad Ikhlag, another local resident, also suggested the immediate start of evening shift to address the issue.

CORRUPTION ALLEGED: Contractors on Tuesday took to the streets in Balakot against the alleged corruption of the Tehsil Municipal Administration officials and said they`re asked to pay bribe to secure contracts of development schemes.

They gathered outside the TMA offices and shouted slogans against `corrupt` officials.

Office-bearers of the local contractors` association Shamsur Rehman Lughmani, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Qadir said the relevant TMA officials had demanding 10 per cent share in the money of contracts to be awarded.

They warned they would move the court of law against the unjust award of contracts.

When contacted, Balakot tehsil nazim Rustam Khan denied corruption allegations and insisted contracts of development schemes were awarded on merit.

He insisted all legal formalities were fulfilled for the tendering of contracts but a group of contractors wanted to undermine the process by leveling baseless allegations against the relevant TMA officials.

`We`ll never give in to such pressure tactics and will continue awarding contracts on merit,` he said.