Protest rally in Kohistan Demands Education, Drug Control Measures
By Farooque Sargani
Thana Bulakhan
In Kohistan, a rally organized by Sindhi Shahgird Tahreek (QAT) Kohistan and the indigenous people of Sarri drew a large crowd from Petrol Pump to Sarri High School, in Saeei town of Thana Bulakhan, district Jamshoro, Sindh. Participants joined in chorus, demanding action on education and drug prevention, with speakers urging authorities to: stop drug supply, appoint new teachers at Sarri High School, reopen the closed school in Thana Bola Khan, and provide basic human necessities.
Amar Mushtaq Palari, a local Kohistani school teacher and poet, highlighted staffing shortages at Sarri High School, stating that only three teachers are currently on duty. Palari urged that ten teachers should be appointed to adequately serve the students.
An organizer and central leader of Sindhi Shahgird Tahreek condemned the region’s current situation, describing Kohistan as having shifted from a peaceful area to a marketplace for drug mafias. The organizer warned that drug use in the small village of Sarri is spreading and risks jeopardizing the future generation.
Speakers asserted that the crisis is largely the result of influence by feudal lords and Sardars who are believed to support outsider mafias. They called for urgent intervention by higher authorities to appoint new teachers in Sarri High School and to halt the flow of drugs to addicts in Kohistan.
A large number of residents and supporters participated in the peaceful demonstration. Protestors carried banners and chanted slogans emphasizing education and public health: “Stop supplying drugs, appoint new teachers in school, open the closed school in Thana Bola Khan, and provide basic human necessities.”
The rally underscores ongoing concerns about educational infrastructure and drug-related issues in Kohistan, particularly in Sarri.
Addressing staffing deficiencies at Sarri High School is essential for student outcomes, while curbing drug availability is seen as critical to safeguarding the community’s future.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the demands. The organizers indicated their intention to escalate the campaign through further peaceful actions if assurances on staffing and anti-drug measures are not forthcoming.
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