KHAR: Jamaat-i-Islami leaders on Friday expressed concern over long delay in establishment of educational institutions in Bajaur Agency which had been approved some three years ago.

Addressing a public meeting in Khoga China area, the JI Fata chapter emir Haji Sardar Khan pointed out that construction of two degree colleges, a cadet college and two campus of the governor model school were yet to be started despite the fact that these projects were approved three years ago.

He criticised the federal government for not taking practical steps to promote education in the tribal areas despite making tall claims.

The JI leader said on one hand the government was saying that promotion of education was vital for peace and socioeconomic development of tribal areas, but on the other, it had failed to even construct a single new school in the tribal area.

Sardar Khan also accused the officials of Fata secretariat of delaying these projects for unknown reasons. He said land for these projects had already been donated by the local people, but even then work on them could not be initiated.

He asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to take notice of the matter and order immediate construction of the projects so the students of remote areas could get higher education near their doorsteps.

Other JI office-bearers also spoke on the occasion and vowed to speed up their efforts to replace the colonial governance system with the country’s laws in the tribal areas.

The speakers announced to launch a protest movement against the delay in implementation of proposed reforms package in the tribal areas.

On the occasion, dozens of people, including tribal elders and workers of political and religious parties, announced to join the JI.

Published in Dawn January 22nd, 2017