LOWER DIR: The post of the district education officer (women) in Lower Dir has remained vacant for the last several months, causing administrative difficulties for teachers and staff and affecting the management of girls’ schools in the region.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activist Malak Fazal Khaliq, along with several parents, complained that despite the provincial government’s claims of prioritising education, the failure to appoint a permanent DEO in Lower Dir had created a serious administrative gap.

“We have contacted local MPAs and MNAs in this regard, but they have failed to fill the post,” Mr Khaliq said, adding party workers would protest if the issue was not resolved in two weeks.

Residents said the vacancy was also affecting school monitoring, evaluation of educational standards, administrative decision-making and routine official work.

The post was briefly filled in March when Nizakat Tabbasum assumed charge as DEO, but she was soon transferred to Khyber district, leaving the position vacant once again.

Political and social leaders, teachers’ organisations and residents have urged Chief Minister Suhail Afridi and the education secretary to appoint a permanent DEO without delay.

MAN ARRESTED: Police on Wednesday arrested a man suspected of using a fake TikTok account to share objectionable content targeting citizens in Timergara, officials said.

They said the suspect was identified as Qaiser Shah, a resident of Siyar Qilagai.

Police said a case had been registered against the suspect under sections 505, 506, 507, 384, 109 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and further investigations were underway.

A member of the police investigation team told reporters that the case was initiated after a citizen lodged an FIR against the suspect. During the inquiry, investigators found that the accused had allegedly received Rs6,000 from the complainant in exchange for deleting a social media post targeting him.

“The payment helped investigators trace and identify the suspect,” the official said.

He added that information retrieved from the suspect’s mobile phone had also led investigators to identify other individuals allegedly involved in similar fraudulent activities. According to police, the suspect has confessed to the offence during interrogation.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026