MURREE: Police have booked 30 people, including a union council (UC) chairman, on the charge of attacking provincial minister Raja Ishfaq Sarwar.

Mr Sarwar, the Punjab minister for labour and manpower, was elected from Murree and Kotli Sattian.

He visited the Gehl union council along with his supporters to address a public gathering on Friday.

His convoy was stopped at Gehl by a group of protesters, including women and children. The protesters were led by Omer Satti, the chairman of the Gehl UC.

The protesters were of the view that despite being elected to the assembly five times, Mr Sarwar had done nothing for the development of their area which still lacked basic facilities such as drinking water.

A clash erupted between the minister’s supporters and the protesters during which the minister’s private jeep was also slightly damaged.

Mr Satti was refused a ticket by the PML-N in the last local government elections after which he contested as an independent candidate and won the seat. He later joined the PML- N.

Over the sacking of over 30 employees from Patriata chairlift, Mr Satti along with other local people held a protest demonstration against the government which led to differences with the local PML-N leadership.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2018