UPPER DIR/BUNER: Jamaat-i-Islami organised protest demonstrations on Tuesday against unannounced and prolonged electricity loadshedding, imposition of taxes on traders and inflation.

Hundreds of residents of Wari subdivision of Upper Dir took to the streets on the call of Jamaat-i-Islami’s local chapter, blocking the main Dir-Peshawar Road to traffic for hours against power outages.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road. The protesters were holding placards and banners condemning unscheduled loadshedding.

JI local leaders, including former MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah, JI Upper Dir emir Hanifullah Advocate, district nazim Sahibzada Faseehullah, and others were leading the protesters.

Sahibzada Tariqullah and others said they would not pay electricity bills if Chukiatan and Wari grid stations were not upgraded to 132KV. Later, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Meanwhile, JI Buner chapter held a protest demonstration in the district headquarters Daggar against imposition of taxes and sky-rocketing prices of essential items.

The protesters blocked the main road for half-an-hour, troubling commuters. The protesters were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against taxes and price hike.

JI district chapter emir Mohammad Haleem Bacha, naib emir Abdul Ghafar, general secretary Aalam Khan and youth wing president Abbas Shaheen addressed the protesters, criticising the PTI government for levying taxes on daily use items.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2019