DC orders arrest of political activist for \’threatening\’ him

CHITRAL: A case has been registered at Chitral City Police Station against a local political worker, Mir Dullah Jan, for allegedly threatening the deputy commissioner (DC) Lower Chitral and obstructing official duties.

According to the FIR (No. 179/25) available with ChitralToday, the police received a letter from the deputy commissioner for the arrest of the activist, the registration of an FIR and filing of a report.

The FRI stated that at about 1:35pm on May 14, Jan entered the office of the deputy commissioner, located in Jang Bazaar, Chitral. Identifying himself as a member of a political party (PPPP), he allegedly threatened the DC/district magistrate over some issues related to Garam Chashma.

The FIR has been filed under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 186 (obstructing public servant), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The case has been referred to Inspector Israruddin for further investigation. Authorities have confirmed that appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law.

It may be mentioned that about seven or eight village council nazims belonging to different areas of Garam Chashma valley visited the DC office on May 14 with a request to get resolved a lingering dispute between butchers belonging to Sunni and Ismaili communities that was threatening peace of the area. 

Later, the nazims passed a resolution against the DC, seeking his immediate transfer alleging that he misbehaved with them and threatened of action against them instead of resolving the issue.

Two months ago, leaders from both communities had agreed to designate specific areas of the Garam Chashma bazaar for butchers from Sunni and Ismaili communities, separated by a buffer zone, in an effort to maintain communal harmony and avoid conflict.

However, the agreement was later mutually revoked, allowing butchers from both communities to open shops freely throughout the market.

In the aftermath, several Ismaili butchers established businesses at both ends of the bazaar. Meanwhile, butchers operating in the central section, regardless of affiliation, reportedly faced reduced customer traffic and lower sales.

The situation has since drawn the attention of certain nonlocal individuals and groups, who have launched a campaign calling for the reinstatement of the original agreement. They are demanding that Ismaili butchers be restricted to their previously designated zones, a move that some community members fear could reignite tensions.

The village council nazims belonging to both the communities in their meeting with the DC stressed the need to continue with the current arrangements of allowing butchers to do business anywhere in the bazaar. But they alleged that the DC not only misbehaved with them but also warned to get an FIR registered against them.