BAJAUR: The residents of Kharkano area of Salarzai tehsil here on Sunday demonstrated against the imposition of Section 4 on their agricultural lands by the district administration, vowing to resist bids to build a judicial complex and police lines on their lands.

They threatened to launch a protest movement if the authorities did not withdraw the section immediately.

The protesters were holding placards inscribed with slogans against the district administration for imposing Section 4. They said they were not against the construction of judicial complex and police lines, but pointed out that the area, which had been selected for raising the buildings, was their agricultural land and the only source of their livelihoods.

They asked the district administration to take them into confidence before selecting any area for construction of the buildings.

Later, talking to reporters, local elders said they won’t allow the authorities to forcibly ‘occupy’ their land for construction of two buildings. They termed the imposition of Section 4 wrong and called for its withdrawal.

The elders also urged the provincial government and the local lawmakers to take notice of the issue.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2022