Pak tribesmen demand withdrawal of ban over motorcycle riding

Tribesmen in Pakistan's Bajaur Agency today asked authorities to immediately withdraw a ban over motorcycle riding in the region and threatened to launch an agitation if their demands were not met with in a week.
The ban on motorcycle riding was imposed in 2007 to control insurgency and prevent target killings when Taliban stepped up their activities in Bajaur Agency.
Tribesmen -- including workers of various political parties, office bearers of motorcycle dealers association and representatives of motorcycle mechanics union -- said that long period ban on motorcycle riding was unjustified act.
They said that the ban should be lifted as normalcy has been restored in the region.

"At least ten thousand people including mechanics and traders associated with motorbike business in the entire agency and they are jobless since 2007 when the authorities forbid riding of motorcycle in the region," they claimed.