HAVELI FORWARD KAHUTA, AJK (Kashmir English): Residents of the most underdeveloped Union Council, Bhedi, located in the LA-17 Haveli Forward Kahuta constituency, in AJK have been protesting against the government as essential road infrastructure remains non-existent in the ancestral home of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.
In this modern era even, three key villages—Mohri, Agywas Jabbar Halla, and Sarjiwar—remain deprived of basic road access.
The situation reached a breaking point during the month of Ramadan, as the lack of connectivity has severely hampered essential supplies as transporters faced difficulties in transporting food and daily necessities.
Critical delays in moving patients to medical facilities are also reported. Similarly, there is increased hardship for residents fulfilling basic religious and social obligations.
According to local reports, hope for restoration was recently dashed when machinery sent for roadwork was abruptly recalled from Dilwali, leaving the project incomplete.
Residents expressed outrage, stating that the sudden withdrawal of equipment has left them stranded with no official explanation.
Faced with government inaction, desperate locals have been forced to take matters into their own hands, attempting to open the roads themselves using manual labour.
AJK govt’s intervention sought
Locals are now demanding immediate intervention by the AJK government to address the abandonment of the project.
The residents have warned that if the Communication and Works Department does not resume work immediately, the protests will intensify.
