TIMERGARA: The workers of ANP, local traders and transporters held a joint protest rally here on Thursday against the federal government for extending Customs Act to Malakand division.

The protesters blocked Peshawar-Chitral Road to traffic and chanted slogans against the extension of Customs Act to Malakand division.

They were also carrying banners and placards inscribed with demand for with drawl of the decision of the federal government.

The motorists, commuters and government employees faced problems in reaching their destinations owing to blockade of road.

Protesters say govt wants to disturb situation in Malakand division

ANP leader Malik Mohammad Zeb; leaders of transporters Ihsanullah and Essa Khan; Saifullah; and Alamzeb Utmani addressed the protesters. They alleged that federal government wanted to disturb peaceful situation in Malakand.

“We will never accept the decision and will go to any extent to force the government to reverse the decision,” said Malik Zeb. He added that people of Malakand had already affected owing to militancy, displacement, floods and earthquakes.

Other speakers said that Malakand division was a tax-free zone and the then governments had signed proper accords with them during merger of Dir, Swat and Chitral states into Pakistan.

They said that people from all walks of life would stand by any decision taken by the Malakand action committee in that regard.

ARRESTS: Police claimed to have arrested several persons involved in various crimes. The arrested persons were presented before media.

The arrested persons were identified as Ghausur Rehman, Bacha Khalid, Shahabud Din, Majidullah and Siasat Khan.

SDPO Hidayatullah Shah told journalists that Ghausur Rehman had beheaded a youth Wahidullah in 2009 over a monetary dispute in the limits of Khall police station.

He said that Bacha Khalid had killed his sister in the name of honour in 2010.

He said that Shahabud Din, Majidullah and Siasat Khan had taken away Rs180,000 cash and other valuables from a general store on July 10.

The official said that police recovered 5,000 grams of hashish and a bottle of wine during a raid at a hotel and arrested Juma Said and his brother Gul Rashid.

He said that another suspect Rashid Ahmad was arrested for selling lands on fake stamp papers.

Meanwhile, the dispute resolution council claimed to have settled 552 disputes among different parties in the district since its formation in 2014.

A meeting of the council was held at Timergara police station with DSP Syed Aqeeq Hussain in the chair. He said that the council received 552 cases of different nature which were settled out of court.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2016