PESHAWAR: Expressing concern over armed clashes between the residents of Kohistan and Diamer over land dispute and loss of lives, the opposition lawmakers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday asked the provincial government to request the Supreme Court for setting up a judicial commission to resolve territorial dispute between their province and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The people of Kohistan and Diamer are at odds over the ownership of the 7.8 kilometres strip meant for the construction of Diamer Basha Dam.

The assembly was informed that several people had been killed and wounded in armed clashes between the residents of the two areas.

Speaking on a point of order, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA from Kohistan Abdul Sattar Khan blamed the government of Gilgit-Baltistan for clashes over the ownership of the territory, where power generation units of Diamer Basha Dam will be installed.He said four residents of Kohistan had been killed and 16 injured during the ongoing clashes.

The MPA claimed that the Gilgit-Baltistan government backed armed groups of Diamer and deployed paramilitary forces in the disputed area.

He said armed groups from both sides had taken positions on hilltops and clashes could engulf the entire region.

Mr Abdul Sattar said Diamer Basha Dam was in the interest of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and people of Kohistan would not give up own right.

He said the disputed territory had been declared part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Survey of Pakistan but former president Pervez Musharraf had created the dispute.

Opposition leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan said the provincial government should prevent people of the two sides from fighting and resolve territorial dispute with the GB government through dialogue.

He said there might be a misunderstanding between the people of Kohistan and Diamer and therefore, the provincial government should fulfil its responsibility to that effect.

The opposition leader suggested that the provincial government request the Supreme Court chief justice to form a commission to resolve the territorial dispute.

He said a sitting judge should lead the commission.

Sardar Mehtab said Diamer Basha Dam was very important for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the country as it would generate 4,000MW electricity.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would suffer if the issue was not resolved and therefore, the government should defend the territory of the province.

Senior Minister Sirajul Haq told the house that provincial government claimed ownership of the disputed land and the matter had been referred to the Boundary Commission for decision.

He said the Supreme Court should take a suo moto notice of the matter and set up a commission for resolve it.

He said local MPA Abdul Khaliq along with the commissioner and deputy inspector general of police of Hazara division was going to Kohistan today (Saturday) to review the situation in the area.

Earlier, the treasury faced embarrassment when a question of the opposition regarding construction of schools and shortage of teaching staff was referred to the relevant committee through voice vote.

The opposition also criticised the government for appointing the chairmen of district zakat committees on political basis.

Starting debate on the issue, opposition MPA Malik Riaz said minister for zakat and religious affairs Habibur Rehman, who belonged to Jamaat-i-Islami, had inducted his own party people in committees.

He said local MPAs had not been consulted on the appointment of the district zakat committee chairmen and members.

Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha said the relevant minister had accommodated his own people in the committees.

He asked the government not to politicise zakat committees and appoint people on merit.

“It appears only workers of Jamaat-i-Islami are honest enough to become chairmen and members of zakat committees,” he said.

MPA Saleem Khan said he had reservations about appointments in zakat committees and therefore, the government should review them.