Reconstruction of roads: Kohistan Jirga ends sit-in after assurance

By Our Correspondent
September 15, 2024
A representational image shows members of a Jirga sitting while an elder speaks. — AFP/File
A representational image shows members of a Jirga sitting while an elder speaks. — AFP/File

MANSEHRA: Muttahida Kohistan Jirga on Saturday ended their two-week-long sit-in at Karakoram Highway in the Dubair area and gave a fresh deadline of October 5 to the government to reconstruct the three major roads, which were washed away by flash floods in 2022.

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“We ended our ongoing sit-in after the Hazara Division commissioner gave us assurance to reconstruct the three major roads. We will announce our future line of action on October 5,” Malik Salaudden, a member of Muttahida Kohistan Jirga, told reporters in Dubair.

The members of Muttahida Kohistan jirga led by Maulana Kareemdad had called on Commissioner, Hazara Division, Zaheerul Islam in Abbottabad in the presence of World Banks representatives. And they announced to end the two-week-long sit-in at Karakoram Highway in Dubair area of Lower Kohistan after assurance by the officials to address their grievances.

“Though the World Bank representatives refused to assist the Wapda financially to reconstruct the three major arteries, the commissioner assured the jirga member to rehabilitate roads,” Salahuddin said.

Another jirga member Malik Aurangzeb said they wanted reconstruction of Kiyal Road, Dubair-Ranowali Road and Shararkot Road before the deadline’s expiry.

“Though we had announced earlier to block the entire Kohistan region on September 16, now we withdraw that agitation call and will wait till October 5,” he said.

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