THE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government recently conducted the first local government (LG) elections in the history of erstwhile federally-administered tribal areas (Fata), which is a laudable step. Since the merger, a dissident group in Kohat’s Dara Adam Khel area is raising its voice on various platforms against the decision, calling it unconstitutional and against the wishes of the local people.
A few days before the elections, members of the group began taking out motorcycle rallies carrying black flags and used every tactic to convince the people to boycott the elections. When they failed in their tactics, they started threatening people with dire consequences in case they voted.
On the election day, some people with sticks riding motorcycles attacked major polling stations, burnt the ballot boxes, and set chairs on fire. They not only burnt the record of schools in various cupboards, but also vandalised, damaging blackboards and fans.
Along with it, according to school officials, they also took away with them chairs, laboratory instruments and whatever cash that was there. At 5pm, the same group pelted stones at a federal minister’s car when he was returning from his constituency after casting his vote.
All these things raise questions about the local administration of Dara Adam Khel. Despite knowing the intentions of this particular group, why did not the administration arrange foolproof security for election staff and the voters? During the violent activities of the group, why didn’t the administration call any security force to control and prevail over the rowdy mob that was attacking polling stations without any fear? Where were all the local officials when they were needed the most?
The government should investigate this case because these people not only sabotaged the whole election process, but also did injustice to the schoolchildren in Dara Adam Khel by depriving them of blackboards, chairs, laboratory instruments and sports equipment.
The government should stop showing leniency towards miscreants as it only encourages them to use even more violent methods to achieve their objectives. Subsequently, more and more people start taking it as a legitimate and effective method to get demands accepted by the authorities.
Simultaneously, however, a prudent approach will be to listen to the grievances of the group and convince its members that the merger was not unconstitutional and was in the larger benefit of the communities.
Amir Hamza
Dara Adam Khel
Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2022
