Protesters deprived of Watan Cards block Indus Highway

Two protests aree organised against the administration for irregularities in Watan Card distribution.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Two protests were organised on Thursday against the administration for irregularities in Watan Card distribution.

Hundreds of residents of Kot Haibat and Chorahta areas blocked the Indus Highway by burning tyres for more than four hours.

The protesters – including Muhammad Hussain Khalol, Ahmed Hussain Khalol, Muhammad Iqbal, Ghulam Hussain  Mehr, Saleem Takola, Hafiz Nadeem, Hafiz Siddiq and Dr Ishaq – accused the administration of not including their names in the Watan Card beneficiaries list.

They alleged that the administration was only providing relief to supporters of a particular political party, ignoring all others.

They ended the blockade after deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Iqbal Khan Chandya, station house officer (SHO) Rana Iqbal and a tehsildar reached the spot and assured them of conveying their grievances to the high officials.

In the other incident, hundreds of residents of 15 villages of Taunsa continued their protest for the third day. They laid siege to the deputy district officer’s (Revenue) office for several hours.

The protesters alleged that administration was ignoring the affected areas and instead was distributing Watan Cards in areas that had remained safe during the flood. They further accused the administration of using Watan Cards and relief goods to appease their cronies in a bid to secure votes in the next election.

Published in The Express Tribune October 8^th, 2010.