KKH blocked in Kohistan against Customs Act

Published July 30, 2016
MPA Abdul Sattar Khan of PML-N speaking at a protest rally on Karakoram Highway on Friday against imposition of Customs Act in Kohistan. —Dawn
MPA Abdul Sattar Khan of PML-N speaking at a protest rally on Karakoram Highway on Friday against imposition of Customs Act in Kohistan. —Dawn

MANSEHRA: Traders and people on Friday took to the streets in Kohistan against the extension of the Customs Act to the region and blocked the Karakoram Highway for more than three hours to the inconvenience of motorists and commuters in the hot and humid weather.

Also, traders observed a complete shutter down strike.

“Our district is highly backward in the province. There isn’t any sort of industry here. If the custom law is extended to it, the people will offer resistance,” local MPA Abdul Sattar Khan of the PML-N told a public meeting here in Dubair.


Local MPA threatens to resist law’s enforcement


He said the government had launched mega hydropower projects in Kohistan but they shouldn’t disturb the local peaceful environment.

“The government has launched Diamer-Basha dam and Dasu hydropower projects in Kohistan. Our district alone will produce more than 10,000MW electricity in near future. If the Customs Act is enforced in our district, it will trouble peaceful environment here,” he said.

Other speakers warned the people would begin the movement of civil disobedience if the government didn’t withdraw extension of the customs law to the district.

“We will block the Karakoram Highway for indefinite period if the Customs Act continues to be in effect in our district,” said a speaker.

PROTEST THREATENED: The local traders on Friday warned Abbottabad’s administration and police against harassing them in the district and said they would protest and observe complete shutter down strike against the harassment.

President of the central traders body Hafiz Ijaz told reporters here that the police first arrested Haji Mumtaz Khan under the 3MPO and when the Abbottabad circuit bench of the Peshawar High Court ordered his release on bail, the police threw his family members out of their house.

He said traders had the constitutional right to protest excesses.

The trader leader said the police had registered ‘fabricated’ cases against 41 traders, including Mumtaz Khan, and harassed their family members.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of those cases.

Mr. Ijaz said if Abbottabad police’s excesses continued, traders would paralyse life across the entire Hazara division.

Another trader leader, Haroonur Rasheed, said the provincial police’s chief should step in and ensure strict action against the policemen taking the law into their hands.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...