MOHMAND: The residents of Durbakhel, Kamal Kor and Ghazi Kor areas in Haleemzai tehsil have refused to sell their land to the government for construction of buildings of the district police lines and judicial complex.

Addressing a press conference at Durbakhel area here on Tuesday, the tribesmen of the three villages threatened that they would start a boycott of anti-polio campaign and government functions and launch a protest movement in the district if the government tried to occupy their land by force.

The tribesmen have set up a protest camp for the last 15 days against the district administration for imposing section four on their land without consulting them.

The elders of the villages, including Haji Behram Khan, Mohmand Welfare Organization president Mir Afzal, Hasham Khan, Hamdol Khan, Alam Zaib and Samiullah, said the residents of these villages were poor and had no other land for construction of their own houses.

The speakers alleged that over the last one year the district administration had forcibly imposed section four on their land to build police lines, judicial complexes and wildlife offices.

Behram Khan said if the government didn’t show flexibility they would be forced to relocate. However, he said they had no other land to build a house and no money to relocate, urging the administration to immediately remove section four from their lands.

The elders claimed there was sufficient land in Karpa near the district headquarters, Ghalanai, where the government buildings could be established.

On this occasion, MPA Abbas Rehman said that talks were under way with the administration and this issue would be resolved soon with mutual understanding.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2022