SHANGLA: Hundreds of protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway for several hours in protest against the police failure to arrest killers of a taxi driver, who was killed in the limits of Jaglot police station about two months ago.

The protesters, including transporters and political activists, gathered at the main Bisham Chowk and blocked KKH for over four hours after the Friday prayers. Trade union president Master Hamidur Rehman, transport union president Sultan Khan and JUI-F activist Mohammad Yar were leading the protest.

Speaking to the protesters, they claimed that killers of the cab driver had been roaming in the area, but the police were not arresting them.

They protesters demanded protection for transporters who were plying their vehicles on the Karakoram Highway and Swat-Bisham road.

They urged the government to take steps for safety of transporters and passengers on KKH.

Mr Yar said that the Gilgit-Baltistan government was not cooperating in this case to arrest the alleged killers. The protesters threatened to start protests against both the KP and GB governments if the culprits were not arrested immediately.

Later, the assistant commissioner, Bisham, held negotiations with the protesters and assured them that the accused would be arrested within a week. After assurance the protesters dispersed peacefully.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2016