Passengers want to get rid of tunnel humiliations

CHITRAL, March 24: As the under-construction Lowari tunnel opens every Saturday and Sunday for a few hours, the staff deputed to handle the traffic at the passageway misbehaved with the passengers. A number of Chitralis who traveled to down country told complained that they were waiting for the opening of the tunnel in Chitral side when some people in a wagon (Peshawar K-1536) reached there and met the officials of NHA and security officials and were allowed to cross the tunnel. All the other passengers including women and children only kept on looking at each other. The passengers said that the personnel posted at the tunnel were not only deliberately forcing the passengers to wait amid snow but were also being humiliated in one way or the other. Moreover, they were openly allowing people on the basis of Sifarish and connections. If you have even any acquaintance among the security staff you will be allowed even on any day, the passengers added. They also said that the government should take steps to open the Lowari top road so that the people of Chitral can be saved from the humiliation and agonies on every Saturday and Sunday.—Nazir Hussain]]>