MANSEHRA: The people from different segments of society on Saturday announced to launch street agitation against the lack of education and health facilities and excessive power outages in the Upper Kohistan district.

“We are going to launch a street agitation for our rights as people in the district are still without basic rights, including educational, health and infrastructural,” Maulana Attaur Rehman, prayer leader of the central mosque, told a consultative meeting held in Kamila area.

The meeting also decided to block the Karakoram Highway and observe a shutter down strike. “We have been facing excessive power outages and have been without potable water supply for the last many weeks. Despite taking this issue with authorities concerned, no remedial measures are put in place as yet,” Maulana Attaur Rehman resented.

He said that Kohistan was home to the Dasu and Diamer-Basha hydropower projects, but it was still without basic health, education and road facilities.

Speaking on the occasion, former MPA Malik Qadam Khan said that the government had ignored the people of the district, forcing them to plan street agitation for their rights.

“We are going to announce the protest schedule within a couple of days as traders, lawyers, clerics and local government representatives are part of our agitation,” he said.

Mr Khan said that local government chairmen and councillors from Kandia, Jalkot, Harban and other areas were also invited, and they would take part in the planned sit-in on the Karakoram Highway.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2024