MANSEHRA: The Hazara administration has decided to continue with the vehicular convoy system in the division to ensure the safety of the people traveling between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The decision came after the top officials of the divisional administration consulted deputy commissioners and police officers of the relevant districts.
“We cannot endanger the lives of people traveling from various parts of country to Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa via Karakoram Highway. For that reason, the divisional administration has decided not to end vehicle convoy system in the areas under its jurisdiction,” Mansehra deputy commissioner Amer Khattak told reporters here on Tuesday.
The deputy commissioner said transporters demanded end to vehicular convoy system but the government wouldn’t end it for security of passengers. Last week, transporters blocked the Karakoram Highway for many days demanding end to the convey system altogether.
The system, under which public transport vehicles ply between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan during the daytime only, was introduced after sectarian gunmen killed bus passengers in Kohistan and Mansehra in 2012.
Hazara admin says decision taken for safety of passengers
The deputy commissioner said the meetings held in Abbottabad and Mansehra with personnel of law enforcement agencies in attendance unanimously deiced not to end the vehicular convoy system.
“The convoy is not allowed to operate even at night for security reasons. Until we are not sure about the safety of passengers, we cannot lift ban on the nighttime movement of vehicles in the division,” he said. Khattak said the government won’t go for steps, which could put the people’s life at risk.
To a question, he said the administration had taken foolproof security measures to ensure the smooth holding of the May 30 local government elections in the district.
POWER OUTAGES: The people of Mansehra have complained about the excessive and unscheduled loadshedding and said electric supply remains suspended 16 hours daily on average.
They said the city and its adjoining areas had been subjected to the prolonged and unscheduled power outages for many weeks to the misery of common man and traders alike.
A Photostat machine owner, Abid Ali, said his business had been running into losses due to the excessive loadshedding.
“I’m unable to meet expenses as electric supply remains suspended for long hours. Now tell me how I can earn a livelihood for my children under such conditions,” he said.
The people also complained power outages caused to water shortage. They demanded an early end to loadshedding.
