Baitani-Marwat sit-in enters 3rd week

Protesters demand restoration of canal, road projects in Lakki Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT:

The Baitani-Marwat sit-in, which began two weeks ago in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), has entered its third week. However, the protest has not received any attention from the media or the district administration due to the closure of mobile services in the area as a counter-terrorism measure.

The protestors, who belong to the Baitani and Marwat clans, are demanding that the government establish its authority in the region and improve the law and order situation.

They are also asking for the provision of gas to their villages and the initiation of a canal project to irrigate thousands of acres of land.

Inamullah Khan, Shahidullah, and Rafiullah, who are organizing the protest, explained that Lakki Marwat is one of the most underdeveloped districts in the province. Despite the approval and release of Rs560 million for the construction of a road from Indus Highway to Tajawri, the project is still incomplete due to corruption.

“All the government departments including those responsible for anti-corruption have turned a blind eye towards the issue,” they added.

They noted that the protest was against terrorism as well as backwardness of the area as Baitani and Marwat clans have formed an alliance and they have been protesting for the past two weeks for their rights.

Speakers said that law and order situation was going from bad to worse in the district and the government was not taking any step to address this issue.

The protestors are calling on the government to address this issue, along with other demands.

The protest is also against the resurgence of terrorism in the area, which has been largely ignored by the authorities.

The protestors claim that terrorists have regrouped in the area, and the police are being attacked almost daily.

The protestors have made four main demands, including the establishment of government authority, improvement in law and order, the construction of Tajuri Road, the restoration of Marwat Canal, and the provision of gas to the entire district. They have vowed to continue their sit-in until their demands are met.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2023.