Punjab

Protesters block Islamabad Expressway

The rally was held against illegal construction and encroachments.

Our Correspondent August 29, 2021

Protesters block Faizabad interchange on the Islamabad Expressway after Mumtaz Qadri’s execution, while Rangers stand alert nearby. PHOTOS: AGHA MEHROZ/EXPRESS

MURREE:

A protest rally was held against illegal construction and encroachments on Murree-Islamabad Expressway.

Eminent politicians, including former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sajjad Hanif Abbasi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Osama Ashfaq Sarwar, PPP Tehsil Murree President Muhammad Nazir Abbasi, Kamran Riaz Abbasi, Murree Lawyer Wing President Asad Iqbal Abbasi, Chaudhry Khalid Mahmood, Azhar Abbasi and others took part in the protest.

The rally reached Jhikagli, where it took the form of a protest meeting. Traffic on all sides was stopped completely, which caused long queues of vehicles. The protesters held banners and placards inscribed with slogans against elected representatives sitting in government and Murree’s assistant commissioner.

Addressing the rally, the speakers said that they are not afraid of lawsuits and that 75 percent of the locals had not been provided land by National Highway Authority (NHA) who seemed to be helping the builders and was now depriving the locals of their rights.

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The victims of the Expressway termed the NHA administration operation as a violation of human rights. They alleged that the operation was a nexus between the Murree administration and the elected representatives.

The speakers, while addressing the victims, alleged that certain acquaintances of Murree’s assistant commissioner were involved in carrying out construction work everywhere, of which they had to provide evidence.

During the protest, slogans were also chanted against elected representatives of Member National Assembly (MNA) Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Latasib Satti and Murree administration.

Speakers asked why the administration did not take action when the buildings were under construction for many months. They claimed the officials and municipal corporation officials filled their pockets and now they had started taking action.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2021.