LAKKI MARWAT: The activists of different political parties took out a rally in Naurang Town here on Thursday to record their protest against ‘lawlessness’ and rights’ ‘usurpation’.

The rally appeared from Qilla Ground and converged at Phattak (old railway crossing) after marching on the busy Grand Trunk Road. The participants carried banners and white flags and were raising slogans in favour of their demands.

Naurang tehsil council chairman Haji Azizullah Khan, ANP district chapter president Malik Ali Sarwar Khan, Qaumi Watan Party district chief Amirzada Khattak, Eng Ihsan and area elders also took part in the rally.

The peace rally also disrupted flow of traffic between Bannu and DI Khan and Lakki Marwat for some time, causing inconvenience to transporters and commuters.

On the occasion, speakers expressed concern over the poor law and order situation in the district, saying that it had scared local residents and disrupted business activities.

They said the area people lacked basic amenities of life though the district was rich in natural resources.

“Our resources are being plundered by Punjab and the business tycoons of Karachi,” they claimed, regretting that the district had not received any royalty despite having reserves of oil and gas, limestone, uranium and other minerals in abundance.

They asked the political elite and former and present lawmakers from the district to play an effective role for restoration of long-lasting peace.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2023