KARAK: People on Monday blocked oil supply from Kohat division on the call of a jirga comprising lawmakers to protest denial of basic rights to the resource-rich region.

Separate processions comprising hundreds of vehicles led by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl lawmakers from Karak, Mian Nisar Gul Kakakhel and Malik Zafar, and MPA from Kohat, Shah Dad Khan marched to the protest site near Rangeenabad Chowk, on the border between Karak and Kohat districts.

The speakers on the occasion resolved that their protest would continue till a 14-point charter of demands was realised.

Jirga chairman Mian Nisar Gul demanded the provision of gas facility to each village of Kohat division.

He said the local people should be given priority in the recruitment of technical and non-technical staff in the companies, regularisation of services of daily wagers and abolition of the third party contract in the firms.

Mr Gul demanded that steps should be taken for proper dumping of the companies’ waste to neutralise the threats to the lives of humans and animals.

He said plantation should be carried out on a large-scale to ensure clean environment. He demanded revisiting the rent of lands being used by the companies and compensation for the landowners.

The lawmaker also demanded withdrawal of the FIRs registered against the locals.

He demanded that the office of the community relation officer should be abolished to establish full-fledged manager level offices in Kohat division by the companies to resolve the problems of people in the given timeframe.

The lawmaker said the government should release Rs9.64 billion liability funds in light of the high court verdict to launch developmental schemes in the region.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2020