MANSEHRA: The people, whose land has been acquired for the 860 megawatts Suki Kanari hydropower project, ended sit-in in Balakot after almost 36 hours on Wednesday.

The development comes after the local administration assured them that it would meet their demands on payments, wages and other matters related to the project. The two sides held talks for five hours.

Among participants were the elders of landowners, Mansehra deputy commissioner Ayaz Khan, district nazim Sardar Said Ghulam, former MNA Sardar Shahjehan Yousuf, Balakot MPA Mian Ziaur Rehman, former MPAs Mazhar Qasim and Ahmad Hussain Shah, and Chinese company’s representatives.

The protesters later dispersed peacefully clearing the road to traffic.

The deputy commissioner later told reporters that the district administration had resolved the protesters’ issues related to it and would support them over the issues related to the federal government.

He said the labourers working on the project would get wages and other incentives in line with the national labour policy. Mr Ayaz Khan said the Chinese company won’t enter the land, which had yet to be acquired for the project.

He said the administration had formed a six-member committee to resolve the issues of the landowners, while a summary had been sent to the prime minister for increase in the price of land acquired for dam.

“If the prime minister approves the summary, the major demand of landowners regarding the land rate will be met,” he said.

Also in the day, a multiparty conference was held in Oghi with participants urging the government to preserve the ‘national ideology’ for the country’s unity and prosperity.

They also unanimously adopted a resolution lauding the role of the Pakistan Army for the elimination of militancy and terrorism from the country.

Noted among those in attendance were Abu Walled of the Milli Muslim League, Yasir Mehmood of the Tehreek-i-Hurmat Rasool, Hafiz Mohammad Usman of the JUI-F, central prayer leader Maulana Matiullah, Anwar Saeed of the PPP, tehsil naib nazim Qazi Zahidullah and trader leader Sarbuland Khan.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018