July 17, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 13, 1429

PESHAWAR, July 16: The law enforcement agencies on Wednesday did not allow social worker Abdus Sattar Edhi to enter the curfew-clamped Hangu district, where he was going along with his volunteers to set up a relief camp for the displaced people.

Speaking at a news conference here at Peshawar Press Club, Mr Edhi lamented that authorities refused to listen to him. He said it was an unpleasant moment for him when his own compatriots barred him from visiting a place inside Pakistan. He said he had visited several countries during war like situation, but none of the hostile groups or warring factions tried to stop him from relief activities.

Today, he said, when he was heading towards Hangu with his workers, the senior police officials stopped him at Chakkar Kot, some eight miles ahead of Hangu and denied him entry into the town.

He said he had explained to the officials that he was a social worker, who had come to set up a relief camp and a langar (free-meal point) for the needy ones, but the authorities told him that the route leading towards Hangu was not safe.

“I told them that entry into even a war zone has never been a problem for me,” he added. He said that despite his request they didn’t permit him to proceed ahead. “It has shocked me. I am still pondering upon that why the home department has denied entry into the violence-hit town,” he added.

Mr Edhi, who had a plan to visit Parachinar, the beleaguered headquarters of Kurrum Agency, said that Parachinar town was the worst affected place, where schools and markets had been closed for the last many months and hospitals were in dire need of medicines.

He said the main road which linked Parachinar with Hangu and Kohat was also closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic. “I want to set up a relief camp and a langar at Parachinar, but authorities have not allowed me for it,” he added.