KOHAT: The elders of Orakzai tribal district have assailed the district administration for what they said issuing dozens of permits to the timber mafia, which was destroying their forests.

It may be recalled that the assertion of the administration that there was no cutting of jungles going on in Orakzai was exposed during recent floods when hundreds of thousands of logs came down the Kohat Toi (stream) from forests.

Speaking at an open kutchery held the other day, elders, including Malik Khan Gul, Ghani Orakzai, Izzat Khan and Khan Badshah, said only the tribes had the authority to cut trees for use as firewood, furniture, construction of houses and sale of precious logs.

However, they alleged the administration had forcibly encroached on their land taking the plea that former tribal areas were now part of the settled districts.

They lamented that 15 to 20 permits were being issued in a month despite their protests.

They said the timber mafia was denuding jungles with the connivance of officials, smuggling the precious deodar, walnut, oak and pine wood.

Divisional wildlife officer Abdul Samad Wazir said ruthless cutting of trees had created perils for the wildlife due to shrinking forest cover.

ARMS SEIZED: The police on Monday seized 180 shotguns and 100 butts, which were hidden beneath bricks in a truck, which was going to Waziristan. The seizure was made during checking of vehicles at the Gulshanbad checkpost here.

District police officer Shehzada Umer Abbas Babar told journalists that an inter-district smuggler, namely Samiullah, hailing from Peshawar, was arrested and shifted to the Junglekhel police station.

He said DSP headquarters Shahid Adnan and SHO Junglekhel Mohammad Khan carried out the action.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023