BAJAUR: The residents of Kamangra locality here on Monday took to streets against the authorities for allegedly awarding mining leases to influential people without their consent.

The demonstration, held on main Khar-Peshawar Road in Nawagai, was attended by scores of people.

Te protesters blocked the road to traffic for several hours.

Holding placards inscribed with demands, the protesters chanted slogans against the administration.

They said that they raised the issue of awarding mining leases to non-locals by the authorities during the past several months by staging protest demonstrations and meetings.

Officials promise acceptance of protesters’ demands

The protesters said that authorities were not paying heed to their demands. They said that senior officials of administration during a meeting with their elders few weeks ago had promised that no mining lease would be awarded to any outsider.

They alleged the administration failed to honour its commitment as both the provincial mineral department and district administration started awarding mining leases to non-local influential persons.

They said that Kamangra was one of the few mineral-rich areas of the district but its residents were not benefitting from the natural resources.

The protesters alleged the authorities registered cases under anti-terrorism law against a number of mine owners in the area.

They said that such fabricated cases could not stop them for raising voices for their rights.

The district administration sent a team of the local leaders of JUI-F headed by Maulana Abdur Rasheed and then another team of police officials to persuade the protesters to reopen the road to traffic.

However, the protesters refused to accept their requests about reopening of the road.

They told the negotiators that they would continue their protest until senior officials of the administration met with them and addressed their demands on the spot.

At last the protesters dispersed peacefully when senior officials of the administration reached there and assured them that mining leases would not be awarded to anyone without their consent.

CONVENTION: Arrangements have been finalised for holding youth convention and award show in Bajaur tribal district.

The convention will be held on Tuesday (today) jointly by Youth of Bajaur, a local association, and district administration.

Youth of Bajaur chairman Rehanzeb Khan told journalists that it would be the first grant event for the youth in the history of Bajaur. He expected that hundreds of youth from across the district would attend the event.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2021