Watan Card distribution exposes administrative weakness

Distribution is halted after seven people are injured in a fight between the flood survivors and the police.

MIANWALI/ MUZAFFARGARH: Distribution of Watan Cards in Essakhel was halted on Thursday after seven people got injured in a fight between the flood-affected people and the police.

Nadra officials told The Express Tribune that they would not start distribution until the administration ensures their security. They have shut down the distribution centre.

The injured include four police officials and two Nadra officials.

One of the injured, Muhammad Afzal, is in district headquarters (DHQ) hospital and is reported to be in critical condition. He got a bullet wound after the police resorted to aerial firing to disperse the crowd.

The fight broke out following a protest by the residents of Klore union council against the exclusion of their names from the list of Watan Cards beneficiaries.

The protestors reportedly exchanged harsh words with the NADRA administration and allegedly pelted stones at them over which the police had to intervene.

Four police officials – Qasim, Muhammad Rafiq, Hebat Khan and an unidentified official – got injured.

After hearing about the brawl, Mianwali DCO Tariq Mehmood, DPO Abdul Jabbar Rana, Chief Minister’s advisor Begum Zakia Shahnawaz reached the scene.

The police have reportedly started arresting people with Klore union council CNICs.

Several flood-affected people and a law-enforcement agencys’ official got injured on Wednesday in Daira Den Pannah during a protest against the exclusion of their names from the list of Watan Cards’ beneficiaries.

Law-enforcement agencies were called in after the protestors refused to end a blockade of the Jerneli Road. They staged a sit-in outside the Degree College at Jerneli Road for several hours causing inconvenience to the traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2010.