Protesters end five-day blockade of KKH

MANSEHRA: Muttahida Kohistan Jirga on Sunday announced to end the five-day-long blockade of Karakoram Highway (KKH)

as a goodwill gesture after the unconditional release of its

member Maulana Kareemdad who was arrested under Section-3 of the maintenance of public order

last week.

“We are united for the prosperity of all the three Kohistan districts. Though we have decided to end the blockade of the KKH

as a goodwill gesture, we wouldn’t allow installations of transmission lines from Dasu dam to the

national grid until the Wapda

honours its 2022 agreement,”

MPA Sajadullah Baqi told the protesters.

He said that the commissioner Hazara division and deputy commissioners of Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Pals were the guarantors.

“As transmission line execution has been stopped, we are wrapping up our week-long blockade of KKH. We will hold talks with Wapda for free electricity supply, reconstructions of roads and buildings

of schools and health facilities,” Baqi said.

Earlier, the protesters gathered at RMP Chowk in the Pattan area of Lower Kohistan around 11 am resumed the blockade of the Karakoram Highway to traffic on the fifth consecutive day after the overnight suspension.

The protesters warmly received Maulana Kareemdad after he reached the protest site upon release from the jail.

“The Kohistanis setting aside their political affiliations and sympathies struggled peacefully for their rights and time is not far away when this region will emerge as one of the developed areas of the country,” he added.

The other leaders and committee members of Muttahida Kohistan Jirga also addressed the protesters and termed the release of Maulana Kareemdad a big success of their ongoing agitation.