PESHAWAR: The tribal elders belonging to North Waziristan Agency have alleged that huge funds meant for development of the tribal region had been embezzled.

They demanded of the National Accountability Bureau to conduct inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds and take stern action against the people involved in corruption.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, Abdul Jalal Waziristani, an elder of North Waziristan, said that tribal people rendered matchless sacrifices during the war against terrorism. He said that most of the displaced tribal people had returned to their localities but they still needed basic facilities.

He said that the political agent, since his appointment three years ago, had ignored the sacrifices of the tribal people and did not inform them about the utilisation of development funds. He said that they raised voice against the alleged corruption of political agent, but no action was taken against him.

Threaten to stage sit-in if govt fails to take action against ‘corrupt’ officials

The tribal elder demanded inquiry into utilisation of funds of billions of rupees, received in the name tribal people during the last three years. He said that exemplary punishment should be awarded to the corrupt officials.

Mr Waziristani said the government received billions of rupees funds in the name of tribal people but didn’t utilise the same properly. He also demanded withdrawal of 20 per cent commission in funds, received under the Annual Development Programme in Fata.

Flanked by Malik Aka Khan, Malik Nasir Khan, Malik Shafiq, Malik Noor Zeri Khan and Malik Habibur Rehman, the tribal elder said the permit system introduced during the British-era in Fata was imposed on food commodities and other essential items that created difficulties for displaced people to return to their hometowns.

He alleged that some people had been given representation in traditional tribal jirgas to hide corruption of the political administration. He demanded of the authorities to ensure true representation of tribal people in the jirgas.

He urged the Peshawar corps commander to get Fata rid of the corrupt officials of political administration. He alleged that officials of Fata Secretariat and Governor’s House were also involved in embezzlement of funds.

He said that tribal people would stage sit-in outside Governor’s House in Peshawar and Parliament House in Islamabad if government failed to take action against the political agent and other corrupt officials.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2018