Protesters force DC for action against CPC official

Bashir Hussain Azad

CHITRAL: The protest by political, religious parties, traders and civil society against the district administration for not taking action against a Consumer Protection Council (CPC) official for misusing his authority was on Friday called off after an assurance from the deputy commissioner Lower Chitral.

The protesters said Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Lower Chitral additional director Irfan Aziz used the Levies force to assault the TCS Chitral manager Adil Ahmed and forcibly took him to the police station and illegally detained him for hours on August 27. This was not only an open hooliganism against a citizen but also misuse of official authority and the Levies force of Chitral.  

The protest started at Ataliq bridge after Friday prayers in which a large number of people participated. Later, the participants decided to hold a protest sit-in outside the office of the deputy commissioner for an indefinite period.  The protesters blocked the road in front of the DC office and staged the Dharna. 

The participants warned that they would continue their protest sit-in until the DC hands them the copies of the FIR against the CPC additional director Irfan Aziz, his transfer order and the direction for conducting an audit and inquiry into details of fines received by him from traders during the last four years. The traders had earlier alleged that the CPC official imposed fines on them on different pretexts and received cash without issuing any receipts.

Speaking on the occasion, the protesters criticized the DC for trying to save the official after he assaulted the manager of the TCS office in Chitral. They said that the people of Chitral would not allow any government official to misuse their authority and violate the rights of the citizens.

The protesters also warned that if action was not initiated against the official, a shutter-down strike will be held not only in Chitral town but also in Drosh and Booni, the headquarters of Upper Chitral district.   

Later, Deputy Commissioner Mohsin Iqbal visited the protest camp and announced that the CPC additional director Irfan Aziz will be transferred and an investigation will also be launched against him for misuse of authority.  After the assurance, the protesters dispersed.