PESHAWAR, March 8: Over 300 Chitral residents, stranded here for many days, left Peshawar on Saturday in a motorcade for Chitral via Kunar, an Afghan eastern province bordering Bajaur and Mohmand agencies.

They drove in 16 flying-coaches from here for Nawa Pass in Bajaur agency from where they would get Afghan vehicles to reach Arandu, the town on Pakistan-Afghan border near Chitral.

A Chitrali shopkeeper told Dawn that he feared they might not proceed ahead as the Afghan forces were carrying out an operation against anti-government forces inside Kunar.

A few weeks ago, an armed Afghan group stopped their vehicles in Asadabad, capital of Kunar province, beat them up and returned them back to Pakistan, he said. But, since they have no other way to reach their homes, they left in a motorcade up to Nawa Pass in Pakistani rented-vehicles.

The stranded Chitralis, carrying placards, inscribed with their demands, also held demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club on Friday. They criticized the federal government for its lukewarm attitude towards the construction of Lawari tunnel.

Earlier, speaking at a news conference, Chitral Nazim Shahzada Mohiuddin, said he would accompany his people for their homes via Kunar province. The stranded people were short of money and they could not pay even hotel bills, he added.

He said both the governments, Islamabad and Kabul, had allowed Chitralis to travel on Nawa Pass to Arandu Road running through Kunar province. They had also advised their law enforcement agencies to ensure safety of travellers on this road, he added. He said Chitralis were faced with seasonal hardships for the last many years.