Delay in road and bridge construction protest

CHITRAL: The People of Torkho area of Upper Chitral district staged protest against unnecessary delay in construction of road and bridge.
The protest rally was Organized by the Turku Trich Road Forum, people from all over the region staged and held a protest rally at Veercoop village.. Thousands of people took to the streets to protest. Addressing the gathering, the speakers said that due to the dilapidated condition of this road and bridge, many accidents have been occurred on it as a result many precious lives have been lost. People don’t even realize death. The speakers alleged that in the past the Torkho Road has been shown blacktop by Ccommunication & Wworks Department in the papers but the fact is that the road is still earthen. Accidents occur on this road every day due to the big ditches in the middle of the road and there is no protective wall towards the river.MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali was chief guest on the occasion while the ceremony was presided over by former DPO Muhammad Saeed Khan Lal.
CDM chairman Waqas Advocate, Tehreek-e-Haqooq-e-Awam Upper Chitral representative Pervez Lal, Tehreek founder Pir Muhtar, Zakir Zahmi, Tahir-ud-Din Shadan , Abdul Qayum Baig, Safeeruddin, Sher Aziaz Baig, Saiful Islam, Jalaluddin, Maulana Ataur Rehman, Umari Khalil, Ahmadullah Baig and others also participated in the meeting.
The speakers said that the elders of the area along with the elected representatives and the concerned agencies have warned the district administration not to delay the construction of this road but the government has not started work on it. The protesters warned that if immediate work on the road and bridge was not started, the people would once again came on roads and block the roads in Upper Chitral districts. The protesters gave the government a ten-day ultimatum after which they would be forced to take to the streets again. Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Member National Assembly from Chitral and Maulvi Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Member Provincial Assembly also participated in the protest rally. Addressing a public gathering, the elected representatives sharply criticized the communication and works department. He warned that if immediate work on this road and bridge was not started, he too would join the people in protest. During the meeting, Tahir-ud-Din Shadan and Zakirullah Zahmi drew the public’s attention to a tragic accident in which several members of Zakir Zahmi’s family were died a few months ago. It is to be noted that the missionaries have arrived for the construction of Astaro Bridge but the people say that it is not enough to just deliver the machinery but work on it should be started soon so that it can be completed before winter comes as there is heavy snowfall in the area in winter Demonstrators said that it is very difficult to travel on the road in winter due to freezing snow and water. They said that the road map has been changed many times but tactical tactics are being used in its construction due to which thousands of people here are facing a lot of difficulties.
Hundreds of people attended the protest rally, chanting slogans and warning the government that if their genuine demands were not fulfilled , they would be forced to march to Chitral. We will also hold sit-ins in front of C& W offices. The protest rally ended with prayers.