MANSEHRA: The traffic police have impounded around 400 motorcycles during a crackdown on underage driving in Mansehra district.

Head of traffic police Jamal Zeb Khan told reporters on Monday that the police after seizing over 400 motorcycles during the last 10 days asked their underage drivers to bring their fathers or teachers along to submit understandings that they won’t drive until reaching the age of 18 years and getting the driving licence.

He said the crackdown on underage bikers was launched in Mansehra, Balakot, Oghi, Shinkiari, Garhi Habibullah, Jabori and other parts of Mansehra district on the orders of Hazara police chief Mazharul Haq Kakakhel.

The traffic police chief claimed that most underage bikers, including students, used motorcycles without the consent or knowledge of parents.

Official claims drastic reduction in road accidents

He said many underage bikers risked their or others’ life by doing a wheelie and performing other stunts, so the action was launched in the ‘large public interest’.

Mr Jamal Zeb said the traffic police’s effective steps, including blood screening of addict drivers, had led to drastic reduction in road accidents in the district.

PROTESTS: The residents of Ichrian, Battle, Ale and adjoining areas took to the streets on Monday demanding the construction of an interchange on Hazara Expressway near Harain area.

They gathered on the Karakoram Highway near Ichrian area and shouted slogans.

“An injustice has been meted out to the residents of Battle and Oghi areas through denial of an access to the Hazara Expressway for travelling to upper parts of Hazara division, Gilgit-Baltistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad and other areas. The federal government should act against those, who excluded an interchange sanctioned for Harain area from the project,” local PTI leader Dr Zaheer Khan Swati told protesters.

He said the people passing through Oghi and Tanawal areas by Oghi-Battle Road were kept away from the expressway, which was being built under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiative.

JUI-F leader Maulana Nasir Mehmood warned that if the promised interchange wasn’t built, the residents would block the KKH for an indefinite period.

USURERS HELD: The police have booked 11 usurers in Torghar district.

“We have registered cases against 11 people for exploiting people through usury. The crackdown against such people will continue,” district police officer Hafiz Janis Khan told reporters on Monday.

He said deputy inspector general of police, Hazara region, Mazharul Haq Kakakhel had ordered the crackdown on usurers, who offered money and animals to the people at excessive rates of interest.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2020