CHITRAL: Civil society and social activists on Saturday strongly condemned alleged attack by workers of a contractor of the Chitral-Mastuj road project on journalist Gul Hamaad Farooqui.
Speaking at a press conference here along with the journalist, they said people of Chitral have been complaining against Umar Jan and Co. for highly poor quality work on the mega project.
They said Farooqui had earlier too highlighted the substandard work being carried out on the road, but the government was yet to take any step against the contractor.
Representatives of Chitral Development Moment (CDM) including Waqas Ahmad, Inayatullah Asir, Khateeb of Bazar Masjid Molana Israruddin Al Hilal, Tehreek Tahafuz Chitral and Trade Union, Driver Union office-bearers said the contractor’s workers attacked Farooqi when he was taking pictures and video of substandard quality work on the road.
They said that large people of Upper and Lower Chitral district were witnesses to the poor and substandard work being done by Umar Jan Company on the road.
They said that Umar Jan Company has illegally sublet the contract of protection and retaining walls, culverts, drainage and other works to unknown contractors, due to which the quality of the work is so poor that protective walls have started falling before being handed over to the NHA.
They demanded that the government should order an investigation into the poor quality construction of the main road in Chitral to ensure its quality as per the set specifications.