LANDI KOTAL, June 29: Armed Kukikhel residents in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency took out a procession to protest against the inclusion of their agricultural land in the proposed Regi Model Township.

The protest procession started from Ghundi canal and, after traversing five kilometres, converged at Babi Khyber.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of Nojawanan Kukikhel, Zarmeem Khan, and the Amir of the Jamat-i-Islami, Jamrud, Haji Mohammad Amin, claimed that the land on which the township was to be built, was the property of Kukikhel residents and they would not willing to sell it to anyone.

They threatened to resist any move aimed at forcibly occupying their agricultural land. They also warned of migrating to Afghanistan if force was applied against them.

The protesting tribesmen on this occasion also chanted slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), and alleged that they were being subjected to heavy load-shedding by Wapda.

Meanwhile, the Jamat-i-Islami, Khyber Agency, has demanded royalty of Warsak Dam for the tribesmen of the agency.

In a statement, the Deputy General Secretary of the JI, Khyber Agency, Zar Noor Afridi, said that unannounced and prolonged load-shedding along with low voltage had made the lives of the people miserable.

He alleged that Wapda was using these tactics to force the tribesmen to agree to install electricity meters in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata).

Fata people, he claimed, were paying a huge amount of money to the government under various heads every year.

As far as electricity is concerned, he said, tribesmen purchase transformers and electricity polls, and the amount allocated for this purpose was embezzled by Wapda officials.