Ex-MNA warns of countrywide protests

PESHAWAR, Jan 13: Former MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitral here on Monday warned of a ‘countrywide’ protest if the government failed to ensure daily opening of the Lowari tunnel during the winter. “We are ready to start a long march from Chitral to the Lowari Tunnel and hold a protest demonstration outside the parliament house in Islamabad on Jan 20 if the government did not accept our demands,” he warned. Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader said the NHA had issued a schedule to keep the tunnel open for eight hours a week (four hours on Saturday and four on Sunday. “We reject this schedule issued by the National Highway Authority because it is an open injustice with the people of Chitral. We demand that the tunnel should be opened on a daily basis till the Lowari top road opens.” Mohammad Alam, Muhibullah Advocate, Maulana Khalil Ahmed, Asmatullah and Haji Khurshid Ali from Chitral were also present on the occasion. Maulana Chitrali said the government seemed unmoved about the suffering of the Chitralis and now the inhabitants of Chitral would start a protest campaign for solution to their problems. He also asked the government to clear the dues of the construction firm so that it could complete the work on the tunnel without further delay.]]>