NOWSHERA: Tensions ran high in Nowshera’s Azakhel area, when a large number of local residents and transporters launched a fierce protest against a toll plaza, which they claim has been illegally established on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
The demonstrators, frustrated over what they described as an unjust and unauthorized tax, toppled the toll booth cabin and demanded the immediate removal of the plaza. Eyewitnesses reported that the protest, which started peacefully, quickly escalated when protestors began chanting slogans against the toll collection, accusing officials of imposing illegal financial burdens on the public.
In a symbolic act of resistance, demonstrators physically dismantled the toll plaza structure, an action that highlighted the depth of public anger over the matter. Speaking at the site, Sikandar Khan, president of the local transport association, condemned the toll as an illegal and unannounced tax imposed without any government notification.
He accused those responsible of exploiting the public under the guise of development, adding that such steps were deeply resented by both transporters and the general population, who already face inflation and rising fuel costs.
Residents echoed similar concerns, stating that there was no legal justification or formal consultation behind the establishment of the toll plaza. “We are already overburdened with taxes. Now, they want to charge us for using our roads without even informing or involving the local authorities,” said one protester.
The protest attracted the support of local government representatives, including elected nazims and union council members, who stood alongside the crowd and condemned the lack of transparency. They called the toll “an exploitative move” and urged the provincial administration to investigate the matter.
Following the incident, officials from the law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene. The DSP Motorway Police and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Azakhel Police Station arrived shortly after the protest began and attempted to de-escalate the situation. While no major clashes were reported, the toll plaza remained non-functional as of the latest reports.
Protestors issued a clear warning: unless the authorities take swift action to remove the toll booth and hold those responsible to account, the demonstrations will continue and could intensify in the coming days.
“We will not let this issue die down,” Sikandar Khan told reporters. “This toll is illegal, and the silence from authorities so far is unacceptable.”
No official statement had been released by district or provincial authorities at the time of reporting. However, sources within the local administration indicated that an inquiry may be launched into the establishment of the toll plaza and its legal standing.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to address the grievances of the people and clarify whether the toll collection had official sanction, or was, as protestors claim, an unlawful attempt to profit off the public.
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