LANDI KOTAL: The twice-delayed anti-polio campaign will get underway next week on March 24 in all three tehsils of Khyber Agency, including Landi Kotal, Jamrud and Bara, simultaneously.

This was decided during a meeting at the Khyber House on Thursday with Political Agent Shahab Ali Shah in the chair.

Assistant political agents of Bara and Jamrud, security officials, officials of health department and representatives of the World Health Organisation also attended the meeting, which was convened on the special orders of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gover-nor.The participants discussed the security of health workers in the wake of the recent twin blasts in Jamrud, which left 12 security personnel escorting health workers dead.

They also took exception to the non-payment of three months dues to health workers and threats of militants to their lives.

Hundreds of health workers have announced to boycott the campaign planned for March 17 for security reasons and non-payment of dues.

Political agent Shahab Ali Shah asked the WHO representatives to ensure timely payment to health workers and told security officials to ensure their foolproof security.

The WHO representatives said dues would be paid to health workers in the next two to three days.

The participants also decided to seek the help and cooperation of local elders and clerics in order to make the campaign a success andmake sure that anti-polio drops are administered to all children under the age of five.

They finalised a plan under which health workers will take shelter in the nearby hujras (guesthouses of local elders) in case of emergency during anti-polio campaign.

The meeting decided that contact numbers of local elders and notables would be circulated among health workers for protection in emergency.

Assistant political agent of Landi Kotal said the administration had completed homework for the coming anti-polio campaign and that all levies and Khasadar personnel had been apprised of their duty for the purpose.

Agency surgeon Dr Abdur Rehman said 127,000 children in Landi Kotal, Jamrud and Bara tehsils would be vaccinated in the anti-polio drive beginning on March 24.

MILITANT`S HOUSEDESTROYED: Security forces on Thursday demolished the house of a wanted militant and destroyed half a dozen hideouts and bunkers of militants in a remote locality of Jamrud.

Assistant political agent Jehangir Azam Wazir said personnel of Frontier Corps, khasadar and Khyber levies force took part in the daylong operation in the hilly areas of Chapari, Gatto and Shangeerh.

He said militants had established hideouts and observation posts in the said areas.

The assistant political agent said the house of Wajid Sikandarkhel was demolished in Gatto area, while six hideouts, three bunkers and some observation posts were pulled down in Shangeerh area.

He said security forces also seized improvised explosive devices, night vision goggles, explosive materials and hate literature during raids on the militants` hideouts.