LOWER DIR: Gujjar Qaumi Movement (GQM) chief Haji Zarin Khan Gujjar has termed the inclusion of Gujjari and Gowri languages in the national census an achievement of his movement and demanded of the government to also include them in syllabus of primary schools.

Talking to local journalists in Chakdara on Wednesday, he thanked Peshawar High Court for directing the relevant institutions to include the Gujjari and Gowri languages in the form of ongoing national census.

He announced that Gujjars across the province would celebrate March 22 as ‘Yaum-i-Gujjar’ each year. “It is the victory of GQM as I have been struggling for this since 1970,” said Haji Zarin. He said that a two-member bench of PHC issued the verdict, which was highly appreciated by the Gujjars across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that GQM thanked Justice Syed Ateeq Shah and Justice Shakil Ahmad on that historical decision. He pointed out that the majority of the Gujjar clan living in parts of Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Swat, Shangla and Kohistan felt a sense of deprivation in the region as other tribes had not been recognising their rights.

Haji Zarin said that GQM was formed some 40 years ago to win rights for Gujjars and finally one of his demands was accepted. He also demanded of the provincial governments to include the Gujjari language in the syllabus of primary schools.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2023