PESHAWAR: A representative jirga of Upper Kohistan (Hazara division) on Wednesday rejected a proposal for the inclusion of some parts of Lower Kohistan in their district saying the move will create serious differences among the people.

It demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to implement its decision regarding the bifurcation of Kohistan district in letter and spirit.

Leading the jirga members, Haji Malook Shah told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that some people were trying to include 13 union councils of Lower Kohistan in Upper Kohistan but that was unacceptable to the majority of the people.

He said the move was meant to create chaos and unrest among the people of the region.

The jirga leader said Kohistan consisted of a total 39 union councils, including 23 in lower and 16 in upper parts of the district.

He said an 80-member jirga representing tehsil of Dasu from 16 union councils of Kandiya, Jalkot and Sarzeen, and parts of Upper Kohistan region had endorsed the provincial government’s decision regarding bifurcation of Kohistan and stressed the need for its strict and immediate implementation.

Flanked by jirga members Abdul Jabbar, Malik Qadeem Khan, Malik Siraj, Abdul Wadood, Qari Mohammad Saeed, Aurangzeb, Israr advocate and others, Mr. Haji Malook said the decision regarding bifurcation was taken after consulting the people but the fresh move to shift some parts of Lower Kohistan to Upper Kohistan was not acceptable.

He said the local MPAs had agreed about the demarcations but some other elements were active to create misunderstanding among the people.

“We are neither in favour of Pattan nor against Palas tehsils,” the jirga leader said adding that some people wanted to score political points.

He said the issue was also taken to the Supreme Court and its decision was a source of satisfaction for the people of the district and therefore, the decision should be implemented without delay.

The elder asked the provincial government to refrain from merging any part of Lower Kohistan with Upper Kohistan.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017