PESHAWAR: A group of residents of Chitral on Wednesday held a protest demonstration here against continued deforestation in their district, blaming the government officials for being involved in the illegal practice.

The protesters gathered along the Sher Shah Suri Road opposite the Cantonment Railway Station, holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Jamaat-i-Islami central leader and former MNA, who was leading the demonstrators, while talking to reporters on the occasion alleged that government officials under a well-planned conspiracy had allowed deforestation in Chitral to benefit certain blue-eyed persons.

He alleged that the incumbent provincial government had imposed the ‘Indus Kohistan Policy’ in Chitral, allowing ruthless cutting of forests in Drowsh and Chitral tehsils. He feared that if the cutting of forests persisted at current pace, soon Arandu, Drowsh and Chitral tehsils would be denuded.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2016