LOWER DIR: The local leaders of different political parties here on Tuesday demanded of the government to take practical steps for construction of Dir Motorway and restore route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the region.

The demand was made during a multi-party conference arranged by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl in Timergara with its district chief Sirajud Din in the chair. The representatives of JI, PPP, PML-N, ANP, Dir Qaami Pasoon (DQP), civil society, students and traders attended the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, JUI-F district emir Sirajud Din, JI’s Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, PPP’s Mehmood Zeb Khan and Advocate Muzaffar Syed, PML-N district president Malik Farooq Iqbal, DQP chairman Malik Jehan Alam, president of All Sports Associations Malik Shah Nasim, president of Anjuman-i-TajiranTimergara Haji Anwarud Din and others said the government was making hollow claims about the construction of Dir Motorway.

Conference calls for restoration of CPEC route in the region

They said that successive governments failed to take practical steps for completion of the project that compelled the locals to record their complaint again and again.

The speakers said the Chakdara-Chitral road was in a dilapidated condition while people were being deceived in the name of motorway.

In a joint declaration the conference demanded of the government to allocate appropriate funds for construction of Dir Motorway and initiate work on the project without delay. It also announced an action committee consisting of two members from each political party that would soon meet Federal Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mahmood and Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam to inform them about the public sentiments regarding the project. The committee would also try to meet Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif.

PROTEST: The residents of Kandaro, Khaima, Malakabad, Andheri, Manogi and Mirzabad villages on Tuesday staged a sit-in outside the office of deputy commissioner in Balambat against the district administration for its failure to implement the court’s verdict regarding settlement of decades-old Shatai Dara land dispute and demarcation.

Holding banners and placards, the protesters marched on the road from Malakabad and chanted slogans against the district administration. They alleged that administration was using delaying tactics in implementation of the court’s verdict.

Addressing the protesters, local elders including Malik Aslam Pervez, Malik Ali Bakht, Malik Farooq Iqbal, Malik Bakhtawar Jan and others said that they submitted an application with the deputy commissioner for implementation of the court’s order but to no avail.

They demanded of the chief minister and Malakand commissioner to implement the court’s verdict without any further delay.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2022