LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Kukikhel tribe in Jamrud threatened on Monday to construct a wall on the disputed portion of Regi Lalma Township if Peshawar Development Authority failed to abide by the court’s order about ban on construction in the area.

Addressing a press conference at Jamrud Press Club, Kukikhel elders Malak Naseer Ahmad, Barkat Ali Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Malak Barak Shah and Malak Qowat Khan alias Prrang criticised PDA for not following the orders of PHC about ban on construction over the disputed land at Regi Lalma.

They said that PHC had directed the district administration of Peshawar to resolve the boundary line issue with Kukikhel elders through a jirga. “The PHC had clearly barred PDA from carrying out any construction on the disputed land till the resolution of the dispute between Peshawar and Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency,” said the elders.

They said that they had been constantly and repeatedly demanding re-demarcation of the Messi-Greffith Line, which was drawn by the then British deputy commissioner of Peshawar in 1912 between Peshawar and Jamrud.

They alleged that both PDA and Peshawar district administration had been dragging their feet on the fulfillment of the legitimate demands of Kukikhel residents for over three years since the PHC had ordered constitution of a jirga, headed by Provincial Senior Minister Inayatullah Khan.

“We are now left with no other option but to construct a wall on the British-era line of demarcation if PDA is not ready to abide by the PHC orders of refraining from construction at the disputed site,” said the elders.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2017