KHYBER: The elders of different tribes in Bara have strongly condemned the arrest of an Akkakhel elder by Counter-Terrorism Department and demanded his immediate production at a court of law.

Talking to journalists in Bara on Monday, elders of Maaroofkhel, Meergatkhel and Sherkhel alleged that Malak Haji Mashaad Gul was picked up from Bara bazaar by CTD sleuths on March 31 in broad daylight without presenting any FIR or citing any reason.

They said that Malak Mashaad Gul was a respectable elder of Akkakhel tribe and had no criminal record nor was he associated with any proscribed organisation.

They regretted that CTD had not presented him in any court despite lapse of four days while no charges were so far framed against him.

The Bara elders threatened to stage a protest and block the main road leading to Torkham if Malak Mashaad Gul was not presented at a court.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Labour, Excise and Narcotics Control Haji Manzoor Khan Afridi has said that government wants rapid development of tribal districts.

Talking to a group of tribal elders during his short visit to Khyber on Monday, he said that government wanted to improve the living standard of tribal people, who had been marginalised for centuries.

On the occasion, the residents of the area informed the minister about some of their individual and collective problems and also assured him of their full cooperation in implementing the government policies.

The minister said that like other merged districts, the people of Khyber would also benefit from the development and welfare schemes of the provincial and federal governments while the prevalent poverty and backwardness would be eradicated from the district for good.

He also assured the people of resolving the problems and issues presented by them on priority basis.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Nasir distributed cheques of Rs1.6 million among 13 families whose houses and other belongings were damaged during the recent rains in different parts of Khyber.

The cheques were given to the affected families in accordance with the criteria set by Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2023