Strike to press opening of tunnel on a daily basis

CHITRAL, Dec 17: Different civil society organizations and political parties are set to observe a strike in Chitral demanding the government open the Lowari tunnel on a daily basis to resolve their communication problems in the winter. The civil society organizations decided to go on the strike after the government did not heed to its demand of opening the tunnel. In a meeting of civil society organizations chaired by former district nazim Maghfirat Shah here on Monday, preparations for the strike and shutter-down were reviewed to make it a success and peaceful. Talking to the local media representatives after the meeting, Maghfirat Shah said the government was adamant at not opening the tunnel for the people of Chitral who were stranded within the boundaries of the district after the closure of Lowari Top road two weeks ago. Hes aid the people of Chitral were being tortured by closing the Lowari tunnel in the winter season. Meanwhile, the district bar association has announced to support the strike call and decided to boycott the courts on Tuesday. The president of the association, Ghulam Hazrat Inqilabi, asked the lawyers not to attend any court to express their solidarity to the civil society organizations.–Zahiruddin]]>