MANSEHRA, Oct 12: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has postponed his planned visit to Mansehra on Sunday (today) amid ongoing protests against the transfer of district police officer Abdul Ghafoor Afridi to D.L Khan.

Local elders and political activists in their meeting with deputy inspector general of police, Hazara range, Akhtar Hayat Khan and deputy commissioner Zulfiqar Shah late on Friday made it clearthat they would not allow the chief minister to enter Mansehra on Sunday (today) if he didn`t cancel the DPO`s transfer.

`Yes, we have been informed by the high-ups that the chief minister`s visit to Mansehra has been postponed because of his personal engagements,` said the deputy commissioner when contracted.

Though the elders and traders had assured the DIG in the meeting that they would not block roads, a large number of students blocked the Karakoram Highwayon Saturday for over four hours causing inconvenience to passengers.

The road was reopened after assistant commissioner Qasim Ali accompanied by a police continent reached the spot and negotiated with the protesters. Mr Ali also directed the chief municipal office to wash all the city roads where burnt tyres from the protests were scattered.

`If Mr Afridi is back through legal means it would be a good news for us and ifhis transferis blockedthrough agitation it would set a bad precedence which the government cannot allow,` said the DIG while speaking to elders.

The elders claimed that Mr Afridi`s shoulder promotion and transfer to D.I. Khan was against the recent ruling of Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the district education department late on Friday ordered closure of private and government schools for Eid holidays from Oct 12 to 20. The order was issued only for the schools in fourthrough agitation it would set a bad precedence which the government cannot allow,` said the DIG while speaking to elders.

The elders claimed that Mr Afridi`s shoulder promotion and transfer to D.I. Khan was against the recent ruling of Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the district education department late on Friday ordered closure of private and government schools for Eid holidays from Oct 12 to 20. The order was issued only for the schools in fourunion councils of the city to restrict participation of students in agitation against the DPO`s transfer.

HYDROPOWER PROJECT: The people of Kaghan have announced that they would not allow the execution of Suki Kanari small hydropower project in the valley until they are promised their due share in benefits from the project.

`We have been earning our livelihood from this land from last many decades, but the local landlords want to deprive us of the ben-efits from this project,` said Qari Hameedur Rehman while speaking at a protest demonstration in Kaghan on Saturday.

They also blocked KaghanMansehra road for two hours to record their concerns. A private company has completed the survey and other formalities for groundbreaking of the project, to be built on Kunhar River in Kaghan valley.

The protesters demanded their due share of money in the land being acquired for the dam and its reservoir.