MANSEHRA: The Islahi Committee of Lower Kohistan, comprising ulema and local elders, on Saturday announced that it would continue its blockade of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) until the upgraded 132kV grid station is energised by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
“We will continue the suspension of electricity supply from the Dubair Khawar Hydropower Project to the national grid and the under-construction Dasu Hydropower Project. However, to ease the suffering of passengers and motorists travelling within the district and between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, the daily blockade of the KKH will now be observed from 2 pm until after Maghreb prayers, around 8 pm,” Maulana Kareemdad, one of the leading figures of the committee, told reporters.
Flanked by other members of the Islahi Committee, he said that the body had held a marathon session to discuss the ongoing agitation aimed at compelling the federal government and Wapda to energise the upgraded 132kV grid station and supply electricity from the Dubair Khawar Hydropower Project to the people of Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas Kohistan.
“There will be no let-up in our agitation, but it has now been scheduled after considering the difficulties being faced by motorists and passengers due to the blockade of the KKH. People should avoid travelling on this artery during the announced protest hours,” Maulana Kareemdad said.
He also warned that if the government or administration attempted to challenge the committee’s decision and restore electricity generation from the Dubair Khawar powerhouse without addressing their demands, the protesters would react strongly.
The protesters had stormed the Dubair-Khawar Power Station on the first day of their protest and suspended the outward transmission of electricity.
Meanwhile, acting on the Islahi Committee’s decision, protesters blocked the KKH for the fourth consecutive day, causing severe inconvenience to passengers and motorists.
Passengers, including women and children, remained stranded in their vehicles in scorching heat from 2 pm to around 8 pm and later faced traffic congestion well into the night.
District Police Officer, Lower Kohistan, Zafar Ahmad Khan visited the gridstation in Pattan, and reviewed the unloading of the machines and equipment transported for the installation.
“We have met one of the key demands of the installation of machinery at the upgraded 132 kV grid station and would pursue them to call off the blockade of the KKH permanently,” he told reporters.
