Mardan media colony ‘security risk for prison’

Journalists perturbed over move, seek CM’s intervention

MARDAN: The Apex Committee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared the Ameer Mohammad Khan Media Colony a security risk for the high security prison in Mardan and directed the district administration to stop construction work, sources told the News.

It may be noted that the members of the Mardan Press Club had asked the previous Awami National Party (ANP)-led provincial government to announce a Media Colony for them.

The then chief minister, Ameer Haider Hoti, allocated land for the Media Colony for the members of Mardan Press Club at Mohabatabad near the high security prison in Mardan.

The previous government also undertook development work in the Media Colony and constructed roads, children’s park, mosque and community centre and provided other facilities there.

Some of the owners started construction work on their plots of land at the Media Colony. Some of the journalists even completed the constriction work and have moved to the Media Colony.

However, sources added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department in a letter directed Deputy Commissioner Mardan Imran Hamid Sheikh to stop the construction work at the Media Colony.

The local journalists have expressed concern over the move and sought the intervention of the chief minister in the matter.