SHANGLA: The traders of Ghorband area blocked the Swat Road in Baily Bazaar here on Friday, demanding of the authorities to register cases against the Balochistan mines owners, where over 15 miners from Shangla perished recently.

The traders also observed a shutter down strike, marching on the road, carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands. They assailed the coalmine owners and companies for not providing safety measures which caused the miners’ death.

The political activists also joined the traders’ protest.

The protesters urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to order a judicial inquiry into the recent incidents in Balochistan mines.

“We demand of the CJP to take action against the coalmine companies and mines inspectors for allowing work without inspecting the working conditions inside the mines,” Ali Baaz Khan, the traders’ union president, lamented.

He urged the lawmakers to make legislation for protecting the lives of tens of thousands of coalminers in various parts of the country.

The protesters urged the government to establish a labour colony in Shangla, increase compensation for the victims and airlift bodies of coalminers to their home districts in case of any accident at coalmines.

DILAPIDATED ROAD: The residents of Manrai Sar here on Friday demanded of the government to reconstruct a local road, which was in dilapidated condition.

Talking to mediapersons, they lamented that they had time and again requested the politicians to reconstruct the road, but to no avail.

They said due to dilapidated condition of the road people had to use a chairlift to go their homes which was risky, and demanded of the government to widen and blacktop the road.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2018