MITHI: A group of villagers and rights activists who had been protesting against construction of a waste-water reservoir at Gorano village ended their agitation late on Thursday evening after 635 days over assurances by local leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party that they would redress their grievances after winning election.

PPP leaders Senator Gianchand, Fakeer Sher Moh­a­m­mad Bilalani, Nand­lal Malhi and others rea­ch­ed the protesters’ camp pitched outside the press club in Islamkot and held talks with their leaders advocate Leela Ram, Bheem Raj, Abdullah Chowhan and others.

The PPP leaders admitted before journalists and general public that they “failed to understand” the issue and take villagers’ concerns seriously when they were in government. Besides, work on the project had already been undertaken but now they would stand by them and have their genuine concerns redressed, they said.

The protesters’ leaders warned that if their demands were not met yet again they would resume their protest after election.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018