Kurram residents protest road closure, power cuts in Ramazan

PARACHINAR: The residents of Parachinar and other areas in the district on Sunday launched protest demonstrations at various places against the closure of roads and unavailability of essential food items during Ramazan.

The besieged residents also blasted the Wapda for electricity loadshedding during Sehr and Iftar and urged the authorities to open the roads, ensure availability of food items in the markets and uninterrupted power supply at Sehr and Iftar.

Addressing the protesters, local elders Malik Zartaj Hussain, Musarrat Bangash, and others said that the situation has compelled people to take to the streets.

They said people were already distressed due to the lack of foods, medicines and other commodities, and now they were forced to break their fast and have Sehr only with water.

The residents demanded the elders to launch a strong protest movement and keep the roads blocked until the main highway was reopened.

The elders pointed out that in

India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided discount on food items during Ramazan, while in Parachinar, the roads remain closed even during the holy month, leaving the residents desperate for food.

They said that the suspension of electricity during Sehr time in Parachinar and surrounding areas had multiplied the problems of the besieged people. Citizens have demanded that WAPDA officials ensure electricity supply during Sehr and Iftar timing.

The president of Anjuman-e-Tajiran Parachinar Imdad Ali said that due to the road closure for five months, neither bread nor other items were available in the city.

He demanded that the government should fulfill its responsibility and open the main highway to alleviate the suffering of the people in Ramazan.