Kohistan residents block KKH for third day in protest

GILGIT: Residents of Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH), a vital artery connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to the rest of the country, for the third consecutive day.

The protest is in response to the arrest of Maulana Karim Dad, spokesperson for the Mutahida Kohistan Jirga, and demands regarding the fulfilment of agreements related to the Diamer-Basha and Dassu Dams.

The ongoing blockade has caused significant traffic disruptions, especially for travellers between Gilgit and other regions of Pakistan.

On Tuesday night, Maulana Karim Dad was arrested under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960. Following his arrest, hundreds of locals gathered at RMB Chowk in the Pattan area of Lower Kohistan District and blocked the Karakoram Highway.

After negotiations, the protesters temporarily agreed to open the road late at night. However, by Thursday morning, the protesters once again blocked the road and renewed their demands. Locals from Upper Kohistan also joined the protest on Thursday.

Also read: KKH blocked for second consecutive day due to landslides

Speaking to HUM News English via telephone, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Lower Kohistan said that negotiations had yet to begin. “We are ready for talks, but the protesters have not yet come to the negotiating table. We have sent a delegation, and hopefully, negotiations will begin by tonight,” he said.

The ADC explained that the protesters were under the misconception that Molana Karim Dad’s arrest was related to his demand for honouring an agreement with WAPDA from 2022. He clarified that the arrest was made due to Molana’s “illegal and unconstitutional demands.” When asked about the specific demands, the ADC explained that Molana had requested electricity from the Patan Girid Station, a request that was not part of any agreement, as the electricity from that station goes to the national grid.

“Another misconception is that the protesters believe WAPDA has backtracked on its agreement,” the ADC continued. “In reality, the delay is because the Dassu Dam, which was supposed to be completed in 2019, has seen delays. InshaAllah, work will be completed soon,” he added.

The protesters have raised several demands, including fair compensation for land affected by the dam projects and employment opportunities for locals with WAPDA and Chinese companies working on the dam projects. They are calling for the immediate implementation of agreements, which they claim have not yet been honoured, and have asked for action on issues related to land acquisition and employment.

Meanwhile, the blockade in Upper Kohistan was lifted after a “successful negotiation” on the previous night. Diamer-Basha Dam General Manager Nazakat Hussain confirmed the successful talks to HUM News English, stating that an agreement had been reached to meet the protesters’ demands.

“We have addressed the issues related to land measurements and assured the protesters that we will address these concerns. Regarding employment, we have agreed to accommodate locals when vacancies arise. In addition, we will work with Power China and Consultants to offer employment opportunities to some individuals,” Hussain said.

He also mentioned that one of the demands was for an irrigation channel for Ishpar Das, which has been acknowledged, and they assured that the demand for water supply schemes would be addressed. “We will visit the sites, and if water is available, we will fulfill the demand,” Hussain added.