SWAT: A number of youths from different parts of Bahrain valley took to the streets on Saturday demanding the rights promised by the provincial government in return for construction of the Daral hydropower project.

Holding placards inscribed with their demands, the protesters gathered at the main bazaar, raising slogans against the government for not executing the promised projects. The protest was organised by activists Malak Abrar Ahmad, Eng Naeem, Zahoor Shakir, Asad Iqbal, Malak Moazzam and Malak Waqar Ahmad Khan.

The protesters said the provincial government had promised to carry out various projects in Bahrain valley after the construction of 36.6MW Daral Khwar hydropower project, under an agreement signed between the government and people of the valley.

“Under the agreement, the government had promised to establish a degree college for women. It was clearly mentioned in the agreement that jobs in power project would be provided to the eligible persons from Bahrain union council, but mostly outsiders have been hired. It was also promised that 10 per cent of the profit from the hydropower project would be spent on the development projects in Bahrain UC, but not a single penny has been spent yet,” deplored a youth activist.

The protesters said the Daral power project had already been completed providing electricity to the national grid, but the promised projects were not initiated.

They said that the youth of Bahrain would no more wait for the government response and would get their rights through street agitation. They said that the protest demonstration also an awareness campaign to make people realise their rights.

The youth activists threatened that if their demands were not met then they would launch a protest campaign.

They threatened to hold a huge sit-in against the government if it failed to fulfil its promises.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2020