MANSEHRA: The Muttahida Kohistan Jirga has called off its two-week-long sit-in on the Karakoram Highway in the Dubair area as the administration promised reconstruction of three major roads destroyed by the 2022 flash floods in the region.

It, however, said it would return to protest if the administration didn’t fulfil its commitment by Oct 5.

“As commissioner of Hazara division Zaheerul Islam assured us of the early rehabilitation of three major roads, we have called off our sit-in. However, we will wait for it until Oct 5,” Jirga member Malik Salahuddin told reporters in Dubair area.

A Jirga delegation led by Maulana Kareemdad met with the Hazara commissioner in Abbottabad in the presence of the World Bank’s representatives.

Muttahida Jirga threatens to protest again if commitment not fulfilled

Mr Salahuddin said the World Bank refused to help the Wapda rebuild those three roads.

He, however, said the commissioner promised the rehabilitation of roads.

Another Jirga member Malik Aurangzeb said the Kiyal Road, Dubair-Ranowali Road and Shararkot Road should be rebuilt before the expiry of the Oct 5 deadline otherwise people would paralyse life in the entire Kohistan region.

He said the warning to block roads across Kohistan on Sept 16 stood withdrawn.

Mr Aurangzeb said the Wapda chairman had promised in a jirga the reconstruction of those flood-hit roads with the World Bank’s assistance but failed to keep that promise.

He also complained about the government’s failure to rehabilitate water supply, health facilities and schools washed away by flash floods two years ago.

LB POLLS: Election for six village councils in Torghar district will be held on Oct 20, announced the Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday.

In a public notice, the ECP appointed Torghar assistant director (local governments) Mohammad Amir as the presiding officer for the elections in Shahdag, Sachka and Phagban village councils of Judbah tehsil and Dor Mera, Shingal Dar and Mangri village councils of Dor Mera tehsil.

The aspirants can receive and submit nomination papers from Sept 16 to Sept 19, excluding public holidays.

The returning officers will publish candidate lists on Sept 20 and scrutinise them from Sept 21 to Sept 24.

The returning officers will hear appeals against paper rejections and acceptance from Sept 26 to Sept 28, while the appellate tribunal will hold hearings into the cases and dispose them of from Sept 30 to Oct 2. The candidates can withdraw nomination papers by Oct 3.

The ECP will issue election symbols the next day, with the polling slated to be held on Oct 20.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024