CHITRAL, Dec 10: Local political leaders and representatives of civil society here have demanded of the government to open Lowari tunnel so that people of Chitral could get essential commodities.

In a meeting held here on Friday, they said that the Lowari Pass road could be closed any time if the area got a snowfall, which would create numerous problems for the people of Chitral. Maulana Sher Aziz chaired the meeting.

They asked both the federal and provincial governments to make arrangements to save people from inconvenience they would face in the aftermath Lowari Pass closure.

They said that the opening of the tunnel was essential not only to facilitate passengers but also to ensure smooth supply of daily-use commodities. Once the Lowari Pass road is closed people will not be able to transport essential food and other commodities to Chitral, they said.

The local leaders also criticised the federal government for stopping work on the Lowari tunnel project and warned of a protest if work on this first-ever mega project of the district was not resumed.

COURT MARRIAGE: Irum Bibi, a resident of Tarbela, has demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government protection to her and husband's life after their court marriage in Chitral, saying that her brother wanted to kill them both.

Talking to reporters on phone from an undisclosed location here on Friday, Irum said that she came here with one Shamsur Rehman from Torkhow, Chitral, and solemnised there marriage in a court in the presence of witnesses.

She said that her brother had come from Tarbela to Chitral and was searching for her, but she went underground to save her life. Irum feared that her brother might kill her along with her husband.

Irum said that her brother had also lodged an FIR with Tarbela police station against Mr Rehman for kidnapping me on the basis of a fake marriage deed.

Irum said that she had never entered into a marriage bond before and all this was a trap to implicate her husband in a false case.

Irum said that they were receiving life threats and appealed to the provincial government and human rights activists to help them and ensure protection to their life.