Chaghi Mountain model, another casualty of May 9 clashes
PESHAWAR(APP): Chaghi mountains model, which was constructed in the premises of Radio Pakistan’s building in memory of May 28, 1998 successful nuclear explosions, was another casualty of May 9 clashes in Peshawar where politicians and civil society demanded its reconstruction.
The tall Chaghi mountains model with fancy lights and red-yelow colour was built on the left side of the main gate of Radio Pakistan was no more.
It attracted visitors’ attention while moving on Khyber Road through Suray bridge before its burning by the violent mob turned it into mounds of ashes.
The model remained centre of attraction of visitors, tourists, students and citizens of Peshawar especially on May 28 every year where they paid tributes to the scientists of the nuclear program.
“Chaghi model allways fascinate me due to its unique design and was symbol of Pakistan’s successful nuclear explosions conducted 25 years ago,” said Ehtisham Qaiser, a lecturer at Peshawar while talking to APP.
He said people and students gathered here in large number on May 28 and paid glowing tributes to scientists of the nuclear program and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the sucessfull nuclear tests at Chaghi district of Balochistan on May 28, 1998.
The violent mob first broke fence of the model and later put it on fire on May 09 as its flames and black smoke engulfed the entire area before the building of Radio Pakistan wherein APP was also located on its 4th floor, was ransacked and burnt to ashes on May 10.
“The burning of Chaghi model is highly condemnable. It was an attack on the symbol of Pakistan’s successful nuclear tests of May 28, 1998 conducted by former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif 25 years ago, and examplary punishment should be given to culprits, ” said Ikhtair Wali Khan, PMLN Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesman and former MPA while talking to APP.
He said burning of Chaghi model has exposed the evil mindsets of attackers and anti state elements.
The attack on Radio Pakistan and APP offices and Chaghi model should be properly investigated through CTD, he added.
He said violence against the government employees including women, vandalism, burning of Chaghi model and damage to government and private properties was terrorism.
Ikhtair Wali Khan said that on one side former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have made Pakistan’s defense impregnable after conducting successful nuclear tests at Chaghi after overlooking international pressure while on the other side Imran Khan was leveling baseless allegations against the state institutions after his politics became irrelevant.
He said that Imran Khan has negated his own foreign conspiracy narrative and failed to controlled his supporters on May 9-10.
Ikhtair Wali said that ransacking of state institutions including Radio Pakistan, APP, toll plazas, attacks on security installations, torching of the government and private buildings was no service to Islam and the country.
Wali said that attack on Radio Pakistan and APP was a deep rooted conspiracy to silence media and shatter confidence of the state institutions.
He said that resumption of Radio Pakistan transmission have passed a strong message that the national broadcaster could not be pressurized through such deplorable actions.
Hamza Khan, PMLN Nowshera President while strongly condemning the burning of Radio Pakistan, APP and Chaghi mountains said that attackers wanted to terrorize the residents of Peshawar but failed in their nefarious designs.
He said people of all walks of life have condemned the attacks on the state and government institutions and expressed solidarity with employees of Radio Pakistan and APP.
“On every May 28, I came to Radio Pakistan Peshawar’s Chaghi model to celebrate Pakistan successful nuclear tests,” he said and demanded reconstruction of the Chagi model.
He expressed the hope that the burnt Chaghi model and Radio Pakistan building would be reconstructed in its original shape being identity of Peshawar and strict punishment would be awarded to the assailants.
