MANSEHRA: The residents of Dasu area took to the streets on Tuesday complaining about denial of market rate for their land acquired for a local hydropower project, delay in the payment of dues, and provision of project jobs to non-locals.

Holding banners and placards and shouting slogans, the protesters marched through various roads from the China Bridge to Sawar Khala Balla area.

The call for protest was given by a 80-member committee of the landowners affected by the 4300 megawatts project.

The committee members told reporters that the commissioner of Hazara division had promised to take up their 14-point charter of demands with the relevant government authorities and Wapda but as the promised wasn’t fulfilled, the landowners were left with no choice but to protest.

“If our demands are not met, we will continue taking out rallies and will even block the Karakoram Highway,” a committee member said.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after additional deputy commissioner Maqsood Hassan promised to take up their issues with the relevant authorities for resolution.

MOTORCYCLES SEIZED: The traffic wardens on Tuesday seized dozens of motorcycles in Oghi and adjoining areas over underage driving.

The crackdown was launched on Monday after traders complained about the growing number of the deaths of underage bikers in road accidents.

The traffic police called parents of the youths, whose motorcycles were seized, and asked them to promise their underage children won’t drive.

They warned that the underage bikers would be dealt with strictly in future.

AZADI MARCH: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Tuesday launched a campaign here to mobilise people to participate in its anti-government ‘Azadi March’planned on Islamabad next month.

“Our workers have scattered across the district to ask people to actively participate in the Azadi March to oust the PTI government for failing to control the escalating inflation and joblessness and bringing the country to the brink of bankruptcy,” former JUI-F MPA Mufti Kifayatullah told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the JUI-F’s provincial general body would meet today (Wednesday) to announce events to mobilise people for Azad March.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2019