MANSEHRA: The Muttahida Kohistan Jirga on Wednesday blocked the Karakoram Highway to traffic, demanding the release of its leader Maulana Kareemdad, who was arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order earlier in the day.

“We will not go away until Maulana Kareemdad is released,” former MPA Maulana Dildar told protesters on the KKH, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan.

The demonstrators gathered at RMP Chowk in the Pattan area of Lower Kohistan district at around 11am and blocked the Karakoram Highway, causing a complete halt to traffic.

They shouted slogans demanding the immediate release of the arrested jirga member and the implementation of all 13 points agreed upon by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in 2022 after flash floods in the region, comprising Upper and Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts.

“The administrations of all three districts had agreed to hold talks with the Muttahida jirga to resolve the deadlock over the laying of transmission lines from Dasu to the national grid but didn’t do so,” Maulana Dildar said.

Another jirga member, Maulana Khairun Nas, urged the government to release Maulana Kareemdad and begin the reconstruction of roads washed away by the 2022 floods.

“We demand that Wapda address all outstanding issues before laying transmission lines otherwise we will not allow the work to continue,” said jirga member Mufti Raheemdad.

People travelling within the region and between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan were stranded in their vehicles throughout the day due to the KKH blockade.

The Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, which also links KP with GB, has been closed since early November after Kaghan Valley received the first snowfall of the season.

“We arrested Maulana Kareemdad and contractor Aurangzeb earlier today under Section 3 of the MPO and transferred them to Haripur prison. Maulana Kareemdad led a group that restricted the laying of transmission lines in parts of the district,” said Lower Kohistan district police officer Taimur Khan.

He added that deputy commissioner Tariq Mehmood issued warrants for his arrest for both individuals.

Maulana Ahmad Ali, another member involved, evaded arrest during the police raid.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024