WANA: The district administration of South Waziristan tribal district and police have come face to face over running the affairs of Angoor Adda check post.

Tension has escalated as the district police has arrested two officials of the district administration and sent them to lock-up. On the other hand, the district administration has closed all its offices in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, in protest against the arrest of its two officials.

Sources in the deputy commissioner’s office said two officials, Political Moharrar Noorul Amin and Hazrat Ali, were sent to look after the administrative affairs and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding coronavirus prevention to Angoor Adda check post after opening of the border gate with Afghanistan. However, police arrested both the district administration officials as soon as they arrived at the check post and filed a first information report (FIR) against them.

District Police Officer (DPO) Shaukat Khan said while talking to media that the deployment of political moharrars on the check posts after merger of erstwhile Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is illegal that is why they were arrested.

The district administration has condemned the arrest of its two officials by police and closed all the offices, including assistant commissioner Wana office, to record their protest. The district administration is of the view that political moharrars are deployed at all check posts in South Waziristan and their deployment at Angoor Adda check post must not be a problem for local police.

However, sources said, all the issue is about money as Angoor Adda check post is considered a very ‘profitable place’.

The arrested district administration officials, Noorul Amin and Hazrat Khan, were produced in the court on Wednesday. The court set next date of hearing on July 21 after which both of them were sent to lock-up.

The district administration said the FIR on civil administration officials was filed to satisfy ego of some police officials which is unjust. The dispute between the police and administration has also increased the difficulties of people crossing the check post. The local elders have demanded the government to find amicable solution to the problem.