LAKKI MARWAT: The Marwat Qaumi Jirga on Thursday rejected a proposal by provincial social welfare minister Dr Hisham Inamullah to rename Lakki Marwat district as Mohammadiya Marwat, saying the old name was part of their history and that residents of the entire district would protect their history at all costs.

The jirga met here at Ahmadkhel House in Lakki city with its chief Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan in the chair. Noted among those who attended the meeting were former federal secretary Akhtar Munir Marwat, MPA Munawar Khan, Nasir Kamal, former tehsil nazim Faridullah Khan, former district naib nazim Arifullah Khan, Fawad Ahmadkhel and others.

The local office-bearers of ANP, JUI-F, PTI, Jamaat-i-Islami, Qaumi Watan Party and traders’ organisations were also in attendance.

The speakers termed renaming of the district a non-issue and alleged that the provincial minister and his mentors (Saifullah brothers) had raised the issue to gain political mileage.

“The jirga unanimously rejected the proposal regarding renaming of the district and any such move by the government at the behest of provincial minister will not be acceptable to the people,” said Akhtar Munir. He said that political motives were behind the move as Mr Inamullah did not bother to take the elders into confidence on such a vital issue.

Participants vow to protect their history at all costs

“The jirga opposes renaming of the district and will thwart such moves in future,” he added.

An elder Shah Sawar said the provincial minister committed enmity with the Marwat tribe by trying to play with their historical identity.

He said that changing name of the district in national identity cards, passports, revenue record and other documents would be a wastage of time and resources.

“The name of Lakki Marwat is the symbol of our identity,” said another elder Nawabzada Abdul Rahim.

Advocate Sadruddin of Awami National Party said the provincial minister had no knowledge of history of Lakki Marwat. He said around 400 years ago great Pashto poet Khushal Khan Khattak had described the area in his poems as ‘Lakai’.

“The old name is part of our history and culture and we should protect it,” he remarked.

JI leader Haji Azizullah Khan asked Dr Inamullah to focus on development of the backward district instead of wasting his energy on changing its name.

Amirzada Khattak of QWP said the people were against renaming of the district. “If he (minister) is bent on renaming the district the most suitable name is Mohenjo-daro as the district is a picture of neglect,” he commented.

Maulana Abdul Rahim and Maulana Samiullah Mujahid of JUI-F, advocate Iqbal Hussain of PPP and Ali Sarwar of ANP also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2020