Section 144: Blasting for quarrying banned

ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad district administration has banned blasting for quarrying and any other purpose for two weeks across the district, according to a handout issued from the Abbottabad DC’s office. The ban was justified by claiming blasting for quarrying is often mistaken as terrorist activity which ultimately causes panic amongst the public and law enforcement agencies. The DC has slapped Section 144 on blasting and the use of explosive material for the next two weeks. Abbottabad district houses hundreds of crush machines, phosphate and coal mines, and lease owners use explosive material for quarrying. The livelihood of hundreds of miners and crush machine workers is attached to this business.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2014.