UPPER DIR: Hundreds of activists of Awami National Party blocked the main Dir-Peshawar road to traffic for almost two hours here on Wednesday to protest against the removal of their party’s flags and banners by the tehsil municipal administration.

The ANP Upper Dir chapter had installed party flags and banners on poles in Dir city as a publicity campaign for the party’s public meeting to be addressed by ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan and provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti in Dir stadium on April 29.

The TMA employees removed the flags and banners from electricity poles in the city, angering the ANP workers.

The protesters assailed the district nazim for what they said ordering TMA employees to remove the party flags.

Later, the additional assistant commissioner and DSP headquarters met the protesters and assured them of replacing the ANP banners and flags, after which the protesters dispersed.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2018