Protest continues in Kohistan despite release of jirga member

MANSEHRA: The jailed member of the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga was released on Saturday after the deputy commissioner of Lower Kohistan revoked the order issued under Section-3 of the maintenance of public order earlier this week.

According to the district administration, members of the provincial assembly from Kohistan, Sardar Riaz and Sajadullah, played a crucial role in securing the release of Maulana Kareemdad and a contractor Aurangzeb.

They assured authorities that the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga would come to the negotiation table and end its blockade of KKH permanently.

“Both lawmakers from Kohistan held talks with Commissioner, Hazara Division, Zaheerul Islam and facilitated the release of Maulana Kareemdad by committing that the jirga would end the blockade of the Karakoram Highway,” sources in the district administration revealed.

Earlier, protesters under the banner of the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga gathered at RMP Chowk in the Pattan area of Lower Kohistan around 10am and resumed the blockade of the Karakoram Highway to all traffic on the fourth consecutive day after the overnight suspension. They chanted slogans in favour of their demands and against Wapda, accusing it of failing to honour agreements signed between 2014 and 2022.

After his release from Haripur prison, Maulana Kareemdad appreciated the unity shown by the people of Kohistan.

“My arrest has united the people of Kohistan, and we will continue our struggle for our rights,” he said.

Meanwhile, a jirga led by Commissioner Zaheerul Islam and attended by the MNA Mohammad Idrees, MPAs Sardar Riaz and Sajadullah, former MPA Maulana Dildar Ahmad

and 90 members of Muttahida Kohistan jirga was held in Abbottabad.

Speaking at the occasion, the commissioner said that a committee constituted of deputy commissioners, district police officers, lawmakers and five elders each of Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas would hold talks with Chairman Wapda soon to take up with him all outstanding issues in accordance with the 2022 agreement.

Meanwhile, the former MPA Maulana Dildar Ahmad, addressing the protesters, said that the jirga was considering allowing passengers and light vehicles to pass through while continuing their sit-in but it would be decided in the coming days.