LANDI KOTAL: Security forces in collaboration with the Khasadar and Levies force uprooted a protest camp in Jamrud and arrested at least 50 protesting tribesmen here on Friday.

Residents of Sur Kamar in Jamrud had established the protest camp about a week ago against acute shortage of drinking water in their area.

The security forces used water cannons to disperse hundreds of the protesting residents, and then arrested nearly 50 participants of the protest before uprooting their camp established on the main Peshawar-Torkham highway.

The arrested men also included activists of various political parties, while convener of the protest camp, Said Kabir Afridi, an office-bearer of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, managed to escape prior to the action by the security forces.

The protesting tribesmen, who remained peaceful throughout their weeklong sit-in, were demanding supply of drinking water to their houses. They said the shortage was because of the absence of a water supply scheme in their area.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2017