MURREE: Residents of Birote Khurd area on Friday blocked the Khaqan Abbasi Murree-Kohala Bridal Road to protest against missing facilities, including water, in their areas.

They marched on the main road which connects Islamabad and Murree with Muzaffarabad, leaving people commuters stranded on Khaqan Abbasi Murree-Kohala Bridal Road.

“I have been stuck on the road for the last one-and-a-half hours because of this mess,” said a commuter, an employee of a pharmaceutical firm, while talking to Dawn.

“The protesters’ demands are genuine, the authorities should hold talks with them,” said Ahmad Hussain, another commuter struggling to reach his home in Kashmir.

“Either the authorities should resign or accept our demands,” Waqas Qudoos Abbasi, another resident, said.

Abdul Rehman Abbasi, a social activist, while talking to Dawn, said Birote Khurd needed health, educational and infrastructural facilities.

Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully after DSP Jamilur Rehman and notables of the area assured them that the authorities concerned will look into their demands and address them soon.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2018