Attack on journalist by contractor’s workers condemned

Civil society activists demand action against attackers besides quality work on road project.

CHITRAL: A group of laborers working on the construction of Chitral-Booni road allegedly attacked a senior journalist for making video of the poor quality work. 

Chitral police have registered a first information report (FIR) on the complaint of the journalist, Gul Hamaad Farooqui, but action is yet to be taken against the culprits.

Civil society and social activists strongly condemned the attack by workers of a contractor of the Chitral-Mastuj road project on journalist Gul Hamaad Farooqui.

Speaking at a press conference along with the journalist, they said people of Chitral have been complaining against Umar Jan and Co. for highly poor quality work on the mega project.

They said Farooqui had earlier too highlighted the substandard work being carried out on the road, but the government was yet to take any step against the contractor.

Representatives of Chitral Development Moment (CDM) including Waqas Ahmad, Inayatullah Asir, Khateeb of Bazar Masjid Molana Israruddin Al Hilal, Tehreek Tahafuz Chitral and Trade Union, Driver Union office-bearers said the contractor’s workers attacked Farooqi when he was taking pictures and video of substandard quality work on the road.

They said that large people of Upper and Lower Chitral district were witnesses to the poor and substandard work being done by Umar Jan Company on the road.

They said that Umar Jan Company has illegally sublet the contract of protection and retaining walls, culverts, drainage and other works to unknown contractors, due to which the quality of the work is so poor that protective walls have started falling before being handed over to the NHA. 

They demanded that the government should order an investigation into the poor quality construction of the main road in Chitral to ensure its quality as per the specifications.

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