Law enforcement agencies on Monday booked 27 elders of Karak district under the anti-terrorism act for protesting against gas load-shedding and demanding gas royalty. Three elders have been arrested so far.
Khattak Ittehad (KI) started their protest on Sunday and closed all the roads in Karak. The situation remained similar on Monday and the protesters warned to continue demonstrating on the third day as well.
In order to quell the protests, police registered cases against 27 elders under the anti-terrorism act, accusing them of vandalizing government property and obstructing official work.
Led by KI President, Mir Zaqim Khan, protesters took out a rally in which several other youth organisations participated. Khan warned to continue protesting on Tuesday (today) if their demands were not met.
Khan said Karak produces gas and thus the district’s people have the first right to its consumption. “We have been subjected to heavy load-shedding despite massive production.”
He also claimed getting gas royalty was the right of the people of Karak and the money should be spent on development in the district.
Accompanied by trader unions of the district, KI announced a shutter-down strike on Monday, as a result of which most government schools remained closed. The Indus Highway and GT Road was also blocked for traffic.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2014.
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