MANSEHRA: Police authorities have deployed additional personnel at key points along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Upper Kohistan following the launch of a search-and-strike operation aimed at curbing criminal activity and strengthening security in the district.
Upper Kohistan District Police Officer (DPO) Tahir Iqbal said on Monday that the operation was initiated to rid the mountainous district of miscreants and ensure the safety of Chinese engineers and workers engaged in major hydropower projects, including the Dasu and Diamer-Basha dams.
“We have begun a search-and-strike operation to rid the district of miscreants and ensure the safety of Chinese engineers and workers executing energy projects,” the DPO told reporters, adding that 10 outlaws had been arrested so far from remote mountainous areas.
According to the police, the arrested individuals were wanted in cases involving murder and other serious crimes. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession. The DPO clarified that no terrorists had been apprehended during the ongoing operation.
As part of enhanced security measures, all entry and exit points of the district have been sealed, while eight police posts have been established along the Karakoram Highway within the district’s jurisdiction. The additional deployments are aimed at ensuring the smooth movement and safety of Chinese nationals and other personnel working on development and energy projects in the area.
Mr Iqbal said the police had already taken precautionary steps to prevent any untoward incidents and remained fully vigilant to maintain law and order. He urged local residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting the movement of suspicious or unknown individuals in their villages and neighbourhoods.
“The people should remain vigilant and promptly inform the police of any suspicious activity,” he said, adding that public cooperation was essential for maintaining peace in the district.
The DPO also highlighted the importance of Chinese-funded hydropower projects, stating that they would not only help overcome Pakistan’s electricity shortage but also contribute to the socio-economic development of local communities in Kohistan.
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Meanwhile, residents of the area raised concerns over rising prices of wheat flour, blaming a ban imposed by the Punjab government on the transportation of wheat and wheat flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Local resident Mohammad Ayub said the price of a flour bag had surged from Rs1,700 to Rs3,000 following the ban. Speaking to reporters along with other citizens, he said people in the province were already struggling due to high inflation and found it increasingly difficult to manage basic household and educational expenses.
The DPO urged residents to remain vigilant and report the movement of strangers in their villages and neighbourhoods to police.https://t.co/xAU7i5mlpT
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He urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to lift the interprovincial ban immediately and also called on the federal government to take notice of the issue to ensure an uninterrupted supply of wheat flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the larger public interest.
