MANSEHRA, Oct 14: Angry protesters on Friday blocked the Karakoram Highway in Kohistan for six hours to protest against non-payment of compensation to the people whose land would be used for building the Diamer-Basha Dam.
The protesters led by MPA Abdul Sattar Khan and other elders blocked the KKH at Harban area, carrying banners and raising slogans against the government and Wapda.
Speaking on the occasion, MPA Abdul Sattar, Haji Mian Gul, Syed Gul Badshah, Raza Wali Khan, Mohammad Nahmat and others said they would not allow President Asif Ali Zardari to inaugurate the Diamer-Basha Dam on October 18 until the dues of the landowners and boundary issue with the Gilgit-Baltistan was settled.
A jirga had earlier constituted an 80-member representative committee of all the tribes and owners to talk with the government and communicate the grievances of the people of the Kohistan to the authorities.
They said that Wapda officials had assured the landowners that the payment of 1,500 kanals of the land, which was acquired by the government at the first stage, would be made in accordance with the market prices but they were still deprived of the money.
They said that the payment to the landowners of Diamer had already been made in accordance with the market price.
They said the boundary commission constituted by former president Pervez Musharraf to settle the ownership issue between the GB and KP could not sort it out as yet. OPERATION ON CARDS:
The district administration will soon launch an operation against anti-social elements, including Afghan refugees, and those living without legal documents.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the press club on Friday, DCO Dr Amber Ali Khan and DPO Ijaz Ahmad said the Afghan refugees were involved in crimes in the district.
They said nobody was above law and those running gambling and narcotics dens would not be spared.
“The Afghan refugees living without legal documents would be tried under the Foreigners Act and would be repatriated to their country,” said Mr Ahmad. They also warned police officials backing illegal practices would be booked.