CHITRAL: Residents of Reshun village in Upper Chitral district continued their sit-in for the 10th day on Saturday against high electricity prices.
The protest has also drawn participation from residents of surrounding areas of Zait and Charun. Women have also set up a separate protest camp at Ramdas Chowk.
The protesters have issued an ultimatum to the provincial government to reduce the per-unitelectricity price to Rs5 from the current Rs15 by Sept 24, or they would block the vital ChitralShandur Road.
Despite the prolonged demonstration, the provincial government has not attempted to initiate dialogue with the protesters.
Meanwhile, speaking to Dawn by telephone, former nazim and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Amirullah shared updates from a recent meeting between the Reshun Power Committee and the Upper Chitral deputy commissioner Ihsanullah.
He said the deputy commissioner backed the committee’s stance and assured them that he would personally present their case at a high-level meeting in Peshawar on Sept 22.Amirullah, however, emphasised that the ongoing sit-in would continue until their demands were met.
MOTORCYCLE RALLY: Jamaat-i-1slami, Lower Chitral chapter on Saturday organised a motorcycle rally to protest the high petroleum levy and soaring inflation.
The rally commenced from Atalig Bridge and passed through major markets.
J1 district emir wajihuddin led the rally.
Addressing the participants, Wajihuddin, Maulana Jamshid Ahmad, Shujaul Haq Baig, and Abdul Haq said the J1’s public movement is entering a decisive phase that will soon force the government to provide genuinerelief to the citizens.
SIT-IN CONTINUES: The sitin staged by grade 11 girl students of Government Higher Secondary School, Mastuj, in Upper Chitral, entered its seventh day on Saturday, as the administration refused to reverse a controversial decision to expel students from the institution.
The crisis unfolded after the Upper Chitral district education officer (male) issued an order, debarring 28 girl students enrolled in FA and FSc part 1 from entering the school.
The school removed the names of students from its rolls, directing them to seek admission to the newly established Government Girls Degree College, Mastuj, which currently operates from arented building.
Refusing to comply with the decision, the students, backed by their parents and members of civil society, set up a protest camp outside the school’s main gate, chanting slogans against the education department and demanding the immediate reversalofthe order.
‘Every student has a fundamental and legal right to pursue their educationin aninstitution of their choice,’ a protesting parent stated.
‘The administration is overstepping its authority by trying to restrict our daughters’ freedom of choice and pressuring them into joining an underequipped college operating in a rented facility,’ the parent said.