CHITRAL: Hundreds of residents of Torkhow and Terich resumed their sit-in in Shagram village here on Wednesday to protest failure of the government to restore the Istaru bridge, which had collapsed last year when an overloaded mini-truck was crossing over it.

The sit-in had been postponed after continuing for five days when the special assistant to chief minister, Wazir Zada, had promised to send steel makeshift bridge to Istaru within three days.

However, his promise could not be materialised and the villagers restarted their protest.

In the afternoon, the protesters were addressed by Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal by telephone. He appreciated their spirit to brave the sub-zero temperature for lodging protest against the rulers.

He assured the protesters of his all out support to force the government to provide them with their basic right of communication, which had been completely severed during the last month for the vehicular traffic. He said that the rulers did not care for the people.

The PSP chief criticised the PTI government for ignoring the peaceful people of Chitral.

He said that the lopsided development in different areas of the province would cause frustration among the people of the under-developed areas. He added that it was quite unfair to develop one district at the cost of other.

Mr Kamal said that PSP stood for justice. He demanded equal status for all the people irrespective of their areas and equitable distribution of national resources.

He said that he would go to any extent to address the just grievances of the people of Torkhow and Terich.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2020