BAJAUR: Tribal elders and political leaders on Sunday called for increasing the number of the national and provincial assembly seats in the Bajaur tribal district in proportion to the region’s population.

Speaking at a jirga held here, they said holding elections in Bajaur district before the completion of the ongoing digital census exercise would be a great injustice with the people.

Elders from different areas and leaders of political and religious parties (expect PTI) attended the jirga organised by JUI-F, according to a statement.

JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Qari Abdul Majeed of JI, PML-N district president Gul Kareem Khan, PPP leader Sayed Akhunzada Chattan, ANP general secretary Nisar Baz Khan, former governor Eng Shaukatullah Khan, elders Malik Shaheen Khan, Malik Fazal Rabi, Malik Abdul Nasir, religious figure Maulana Khan Zeb and Malik Shahabuddin Khan were among the participants.

The participants pointed out the people had reservations over the 2017 census, which didn’t reflect the actual population of the district. They claimed the population of the district was more than 1.5 million, but the 2017 headcount showed it be 1.094 million. They demanded of the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan to either increase the number of provincial and national assembly constituencies or hold the elections after completion of the ongoing census.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2023