Non-construction of Chitral roads: JUIF threatens to launch protest movement

CHITRAL: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) on Monday announced to launch a protest movement after Eidul Adzha against the non-construction of dilapidated roads in the Lower Chitral district.

Speaking at a press conference at Chitral Press Club, JUIF district chief Maulana Abdur Rahman, former provincial assembly candidate Maulana Faiz Muhammad, Qari Jamal Abdul Nasir, tehsil chief Maulana Pir Sarwar Nadeem, tehsil secretary Maulana Inamur Rehman, Drivers’ Union president Sabir Ahmad and others said that roads condition was dilapidated across Chitral due to which the residents were facing numerous problems.

They alleged that due to the negligence and corruption of both the provincial and federal governments, the people in Chitral were facing issues like poor infrastructure, lack of education and health facilities and others.

The speakers said that the roads from Lowari Tunnel to Shandur, Kalash Valley, Torkhow-Booni, Garam Chashma and Mastuj-Broghil roads were in a very poor condition, making life unbearable for the locals.

They particularly criticised the performance of the government on the Chitral-Shandur road project, calling it a glaring example of corruption. The speakers warned that if construction work on these roads did not begin by Eidul Azha, they would mobilise the public from Ashirat to Broghil for a complete roadblock and protest movement to press the government for acceptance of their demands.

The JUIF activists also highlighted the severe shortage of doctors in Chitral hospitals and expressed concern over the unavailability of the life-saving injection. They demanded the provision of life-saving drugs, the recruitment of more doctors and the availability of diagnostic facilities at the hospitals in Chitral. The speakers also criticised Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi for transferring two lady doctors from Chitral hospital to Booni, calling it unacceptable. They expressed concern over the recruitment of non-locals by the National Highway Authority (NHA) in its ongoing projects in Chitral and termed it a grave injustice to the local youth.

The JUIF leaders also opposed the imposition of toll taxes on vehicles by NHA before the completion of 100 percent work on the Lowari Tunnel and demanded the immediate reversal of this decision.