Raja's aborted visit brings agony to Chitrali passengers

CHITRAL, Nov 15: As Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf even could not fulfil his promise to open the second phase of work on the incomplete Lowari Tunnel on Thursday, hundreds of passengers coming to Chitral and going from here  to other parts of the country had to face physical hardship and mental agony for two days. They were stopped from the traveling due to the expected visit of the prime minister to the site. The passengers reaching here said they were stopped at Upper Dir because the road passed through the southern portal of the tunnel where the prime minister was to land and inaugurate the second phase of the project. They said that the passengers did not pose any threat to the security of the prime minister and it could have been managed without disturbing the flow of traffic on the route even for an hour.  The passengers included women and children who suffered great hardship due to the blockade of vehicular traffic. Lowari Pass is the only route connecting the Chitral district with the rest of the country. Meanwhile, the passengers from upper Chitral remained stranded in Chitral due to the blockade of the Lowari road. The Lowari road was opened for the passengers on Thursday afternoon only when the visit of the prime minister was cancelled.–Zahiruddin]]>