KARAK: Local people took to the streets in Banda Daud Shah tehsil on Tuesday to protest raids on their houses by the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) officials. Local traders also participated in the protest after shutting down their shops.

The protesters, including local people, gathered at Teri bazaar and held a protest demonstration there, accusing the officials of the company of teasing the consumers. They alleged that SNGPL was disturbing the peaceful and friendly environment provided by the local people to the oil and gas exploration companies in the district.

The protesters claimed that the oil and gas exploration companies didn’t provide them any compensation for carrying out exploration work on their lands.

They claimed that SNGPL had registered FIRs against local people without any reason, and threatened that if the company didn’t mend its ways then they would spread the protest movement across the district.

The speakers also condemned the low gas pressure in the tehsil despite producing the commodity and demanded of the company to improve the pressure.

The protesters also formed a ten-member committee to take up the issue with SNGPL authorities to withdraw the FIRs lodged against the local people. They also vowed to contact the social and rights organisations about expanding the protest.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2014