SHANGLA: Residents of Bisham tehsil threatened the government that if the Bisham library books were shifted to Alpuri they would block Karakoram Highway.
They told media persons after a meeting with Assistant Commissioner Bisham, Anwar Ali here on Friday. As administration had asked the government primary school Butyal’s headmaster to hand over the books of Hum Nasir public library to administration for Alpuri library.
Jamiat-Ulema Islam Fazal local leader, Imad Ahmed Khan and local youth members were present on the occasion.
The youth delegation informed the AC Bisham if such moves was taken they would resist and will not let anyone shifting books to Alpuri instead setting up library for local’s book lovers.
The Hum Nasir Library was established by the Pakistan Army at the school but remained dysfunctional owing its locality and was inaccessible to general public.
Members of Youth Jirga, a local organisation, said that they had established a library on self-help-basis but due to limited resources and insufficient of books the number of visitors is quite low.
Farmaullah Yousafzai, said they were in struggle to get the books from Hum Nasir Library for their private library whether government set up a public library for general public.
He said, the administration was intended to permanently close the Hum Nasir Library and shift the books to the district headquarters Alpuri but it will be injustice with the local books lovers.
“We want a functional public library for which making efforts and with in contact with the local lawmakers and administration but now shifting the books to another place is beyond understand,” Wakeel Khan, another local book lover said.
He said, former deputy commissioner Tashfeen Haider had issued a directive to the local administration to establish a public library on their request but the building was unfit for use vulnerable.
Jamshid Ali Shah, resident said he had given application to former deputy commissioner but the administration yet to moved for practical steps for the public library which was need of the hour.
He said their demand was that government set up a public library for the local book lovers as there was no any public library where they could sat for study.
He added that government at should not shift the Hum Nasir library books to Alpuri and make arrangements locally for books lovers.
Deputy Commissioner Shangla Imran Hussain Ranjha when contacted in this regard, he told The Northern Post that it was the chief secretary directive to establish a public library.
He said, he won’t provide books to the private library and later would contribute to the locally established private library, however at the moment they have to set up public library at Alpuri.
The local residents warned the government if the library books were shifted to Alpuri and not establish library at Bisham for them they would stage agitation against the government.
