LOWER DIR: The Gujjar tribe made a demand on Monday to the government and senior officials of the forest department to allow relaxation in regulations governing the forests for owners, allowing them to utilise wood for household purposes.

The demand was made during a grand jirga of Gujjar clan held at Chakdara, which was attended by the tribe elders from various districts of the region. Malik Raza Khan Khatankhil, Engr Yousuf Zaman, Malik Naseem Jan, chairman of the Gujjar Youth Forum Malik Umar Khittab, and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers claimed that the Gujjar tribe was being forcefully removed from its forests, despite the fact that the tribe was mostly found in the mountainous regions of the Malakand division, where their pres-ence was essential to the growth and preservation of the forests. They stressed that the forest department should allow timber harvesting to ensure regeneration of forests.

MAN KILLED: A man identified as Daud Khan, 41, of Mian Kalay area was shot dead when unknown attackers opened fire on him in the limits of Mayar police station, residents and police said. The Mayar police registered a case and started investigation.

IODINE DEFICIENCY: The local health department arranged a seminar under the universal salt iodisation programme at the district health officer`s office.

Addressing the event, the speakers said that iodine was an essential component of the human diet and its deficiency always led to very complicated diseases. They asked commu-nity elders, teachers and prayer leaders t o play their active role in making the masses aware of the iodine importance.

BY-POLLS: In the recent LG second by-elections, the JI, PTI, PPP and ANP each turned victorious on one village council seat in the district. According to unofficial and unverified results, in Paito Dara, PPP`s candidate Rahmat Subhan won with 918 votes, while JUI-F`s candidate Mudassir Rafiq received 590. Ziaullah won the Sadbar Kalay seat with 218 votes, beating ANP`s Usman Shah, who got 202.

In Rahimabad, ANP`s Syed Mahmood Jan won with 204 votes against Aftab Khan who received 165. Wiqar Ahmed of ANP won in Hajiabad Balambat with 598 votes, defeating PTI`s Shahab Khan with 400 votes. Correspondent