PESHAWAR/KHAR: The elders of Kokikhel tribe from Khyber Agency and students in Bajaur Agency have criticised the federal government for removing the Fata reforms bill from the agenda of National Assembly.

In Peshawar, the Kokikhel elders led by Mohammad Irfan Kokikhel told a press conference that removal of Fata reforms bill from the agenda of National Assembly was tantamount to a drone attack on tribal people.

They said that tribesmen were deprived of all fundamental rights owing to imposition of Frontier Crimes Regulation in Fata. They said that Fata was deliberately kept backward.

Mr Irfan Kokikhel said that infrastructure in Fata was badly damaged during the war against the terrorism. He said that tribal people were displaced from their respective areas and faced difficulties at camps in settled areas of the country.

He said that tribal people wanted the government to ensure provision of their all constitutional rights including merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added the tribal people were not terrorists but patriotic citizens of the country as they rendered unforgettable sacrifices for motherland.

Bajaur students threaten to hold protest outside Parliament House

Flanked by Haji Fazal Kokikhel, Haji Malik Jan Kokikhel, Haji Zaina Gul Kokikhel and others, Mr Irfan Kkikhel alleged that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PkMAP chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai were hurdles in development of Fata. He urged the chief of army staff to play his role for development of Fata, which according to him, was its merger with the province.

In Bajaur Agency, students held a protest really against the federal government for dropping the Fata reforms bill from the agenda of National Assembly.

The protesting students threatened to hold a demonstration outside Parliament House in Islamabad if the reforms were not introduced in Fata by the end of current month.

A large number of students belonging to different colleges participated in the protest arranged by Bajaur Students Organisation outside the postgraduate college in Khar.

The protesters chanted slogans against the federal government and staged a sit-in on Khar-Timergara Road, blocking it to traffic for about an hour.

Daud Shah, Asadullah Khan, Wahidullah Shah, Obidur Rehman and Daud Khan addressed the protesting students and lashed out at the government for removing Fata reforms bill from the National Assembly’s agenda.

Later, the protesters reached Khar Bazaar after passing through different localities and held a protest on the main GT Road. The workers of various political parties and traders also joined the protest and blocked traffic for some time.

All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance president Abdul Manan, PPP leader Aourangzeb, PTI leader Dr Khalilur Rehman and JI leader Mohammad Hameed Sufi also addressed the rally.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2017