People of Kalam unite against authorities, observe shutter down protest over harassment of locals

The elders of Kalam and surrounding areas united against the government and law enforcement agencies to stop harassing the innocent people of that area.

The protest was ignited over an incident of a suicide which took place last week. A local by the name of Malak Shehzada committed suicide on Wednesday by jumping into the Swat river. Apparently he had been interrogated incessantly by the law enforcement agencies after two blasts took place in Bahan area of Kalam last week.

“After the two blasts in Bahan area of Kalam on July 22, the law enforcement agencies arrested Malak Shahzada and kept him in custody for four days. When they released him on the fifth day once again he was interrogated by the agencies. Fed up with the ill-treatment of the law enforcement agencies, he jumped into the Swat River and drowned,” said Rahat Khan, president of Kalam Bazaar Traders Federation.

The Jirga of the Kalam elders was held after Shehzada was laid to rest and they decided to unite against the government. On Thursday a complete shutter down strike was observed by the residents of Kalam and everyone gathered in the streets chanting slogans against the government.

The local residents of Kalam were of the viewpoint that they even stood against the Taliban during the time of insurgency so how can they now let the government harass them.

The elders of the community and the Jirga members later met up with the army officials and presented their demands to them, which were accepted.

The army has agreed to not carry out unnecessary raids and not to arrest any local without the consent of the local elders.

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Posted by fatimaarshad on Jul 29 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.