Protesters block KKH to demand release of elder

MANSEHRA: The members of the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga on Wednesday blocked the Karakoram Highway to traffic demanding the release of their leader, Maulana Kareemdad, who was arrested under Section-3 of the maintenance of public order earlier in the day.

“We will not clear this artery that connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan till the release of Maulana Kareemdad,” former MPA Maulana Dildar told the protesters.The demonstrators gathered at RMP Chowk in the Pattan area of Lower Kohistan at around 11am and blocked the Karakoram Highway, causing a complete halt to traffic.

They raised slogans demanding the immediate release of the arrested jirga member and the implementation of all 13 points agreed upon by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in 2022 after the flash floods in the region, comprising Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts.

“The administrations of all three districts had agreed to hold talks with the Muttahida Jirga to resolve the deadlock over laying transmission lines from Dasu to the national grid, but postponed them at the last moment,” Maulana Dildar said.

Another jirga member, Maulana Khairun Nas, called on the government to release Maulana Kareemdad and begin the reconstruction of roads washed away during the 2022 flash floods.“We demand that Wapda address all outstanding issues before proceeding with the laying of transmission lines. Otherwise, we will not allow the work to continue,” Mufti Raheemdad, another jirga member, said.

Passengers travelling within the region and between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan remained stranded in their vehicles throughout the day due to the blockade. “We have arrested Maulana Kareemdad and a contractor, Aurangzeb, earlier today under Section 3 of the MPO and shifted them to jail in Haripur. Maulana Kareemdad led a group that restricted the laying of transmission lines in parts of the district,” Taimur Khan, the district police officer of Lower Kohistan.

He added that Deputy Commissioner Tariq Mehmood had issued arrest warrants for both individuals. Maulana Ahmad Ali, another member, managed to evade the arrest during the police raid.