For the first time in the country's 70-year history, a man from the Kalash community has been nominated for a minority seat in one of the country's legislatures, it emerged on Wednesday.
Wazir Zada, who hails from Chitral, has been awarded a ticket for a reserved minority seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
According to PTI leader Atif Khan, the party has named Ravi Kumar as their top choice and Kalash man Wazir Zada has been listed as their second choice on the priority list submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
It is the first time a member of the Kalash community, which is Pakistan's smallest ethno-religious group, has been nominated for a seat in the provincial assembly.
Wazir Zada is well known for his social and political services to the community. He has worked with zeal to bring together the Muslim and Kalash communities and for the social uplifting and infrastructural development of the region.
Appreciating PTI's gesture, he said the party has won the hearts of his people and he hopes that he is given a chance to be a representative in KP Assembly and bring to light the myriad problems the community and its near-extinct culture is facing.
Kalash decline
The National Commission on Human Rights had last year sounded the alarm about the Kalash community in a report in which it noted that the numbers of the group were only around 4,000 and cited “unwilling conversions and cajoled marriages with non-Kalash” as being among the immediate threats facing the community.
The report also referred to environmental stressors such as the denial of land rights which has played havoc with the pattern of their lives.
The younger generation, already deprived of adequate educational facilities, has no choice but to study from textbooks meant for adherents of the majority faith, which amounts to what the NCHR chairman described as “conversion through subtle indoctrination”.
The fact that there is no written Kalasha script has further endangered the preservation of their heritage.
Illegal logging has increased the frequency of flash floods in the valleys where they reside, and the mushrooming of hotels in the scenic location violates the Kalash’s customary property rights.
Moreover, the growing tourist traffic to the area, drawn by the community’s unique rituals and its laidback culture, has brought out some of the worst instincts of the Pakistani public.
Comments (14) Closed
Bravo PTI, good move to give everyone a chance to represent their communities and bring betterment for the local.
Pakistan Zindabad!
The beginning of an era to preserve the extincting culture. A lot need to be done. Sincere efforts are required.
PTI is the party of the future and a party for all Pakistanis.
Great!
Great! He'll represent the colorful Kalsash culture
after 70 years pakistan did something that make sense
Regarding unavailability of textbooks for the Kalash. It's very simple, inclusion of religion in textbooks should be limited to the subject of religion and the religious minorites should be exempt.
Good initiative.
PTI has a woman on general seat in Dir for the first time ever. Now first time ever a Kalash man on reserve seat. Well done PTI.
The have the right to be free.
70 years! Unbelievable..
Kalash are my brothers and so are Hindu, Sikh, Christians, Parsis every Muslim we are Pakistani first before any faith.
Pakistan Zindabad!
This is v good thing.Good luck Wazir Zada!