SWABI: The Qaumi Watan Party activists held a demonstration here on Monday against the increasing prices of essential goods.

The protesters gathered near the general bus stand before marching on different roads to the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk shouting slogans against the government.

The protest led to the closure of Swabi-Mardan Road, Swabi-Jehangira Road, Swabi-Topi Road and Swabi-Maneri Road and the diversion of traffic to other roads.

The speakers said the ruling PTI was directionless and therefore, it was struggling to address the country’s economic woes.

They regretted that despite begging money from UAE, China and Saudi Arabia, the government was approaching the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package.

Masood Jabbar, who led the protest, said the country would continue to face difficulties without making economic progress.

He said the PTI government had miserably failed on economic front. QWP district coordinator Iftikhar Khanzada said the common man was struggling to survive as the PTI had no mechanism to control price hike.

ROAD BLOCKED: The residents of Azim Ghari village blocked the Swabi-Jehangira Road against the use of the local arteries by trucks and tractor-trolleys loaded with sand.

The protesters said the trucks and tractor-trolleys carrying sand damaged village roads, caused accidents and threatened public life and property and therefore, they should be banned from passing through their village.

They warned that they would open the road only after their demand was met. SHO of the local police station showed up to pacify protesters but failed.

Later, the assistant commissioner of Chota Lahor tehsil held talks with protesters and assured them of the early resolution of their problem. The mob later dispersed.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2019