Residents of Ayun from district Chitral have expressed grave concern over the growing deforestation in different parts of Chitral, demanded of the government to take immediate action against timer mafia to end illegal practice.
Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, a member of Muttahida Council Ayun (MCA), Fazlur Rehman said that authorities had taken action against the peaceful agitators for protection of forests under the section seven of the Anti Terrorism Act.
"We are peaceful and law abiding people, but would not accept felling of gushy forests in different parts of the district Chitral, he maintained. Flanked by Nazir Mohammad Khan, Shafiqur Rehman, Rafi Ahmed and other elders of the area, Rehman said that an organised timer mafia had involved in cutting down precious pine forests in the south of mountainous districts.
He further informed that deforestation was carried out on pretext of trees felling in wind, snow and rainfalls. However, he said that the timber mafia was involved in chopping green tress in different parts of the district Chitral. He demanded for immediate stoppage of deforestation in Rambur, Birir, Bamboret and Achoulga valleys. Earlier, residents of Ayun staged a protest demonstration against deforestation in nearby valleys, which led to clashes with police and dozens of locals were arrested in the aftermath. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice has later ordered a judicial inquiry into this incident.
Comments
Comments are closed.