11 September 2004	Saturday	25 Rajab 1425

KHAR, Sept 10: Various political parties have rejected the establishment of a nominated council in the Bajaur tribal agency and have pledged to launch a campaign against it.

A joint press conference was held here on Friday by office- bearers of various parties to oppose such councils in the tribal areas.

Provincial chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid, provincial chief of the National Awami Party Shahabuddin Khan, provincial chief of the Awami National Party Burhanuddin Khan, provincial head of the Pakistan Muslim League Malik Khaista Gul, general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Abdurashid, provincial chief of the Pakistan People's Party Akhunzada Chattan and chairman of the Bajaur political alliance Qazi Abdul Mannan attended the press conference.

Mr Haroonur Rashid said that the government was denying eight million people living in the tribal areas of their political rights by not holding local bodies elections. He said that the tribal leaders would never accept the nominated councils because it would only strengthen the political administration in tribal areas.

Political leaders also announced their intentions to launch a public awareness campaign in other tribal agencies.

In a related development, the local JI chapter distanced itself from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in Bajaur Agency after the local MMA amir Maulana Mohammad Sadiq approved the setting up of government-nominated councils in the tribal areas.