KHYBER: Various groups from different tribal districts have announced the formation of an alliance in order to effectively raise their voice against the ‘forced’ merger of former Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.

Tribal elders, former parliamentarians and representatives of Qabayal Tahaffuz Movement, Khyber Qaumi Jirga, Khyber Union, All Qabayal Loya Jirga, Qabayalistan Tahaffuz Movement and Ghairati Pakhtun Party held a joint meeting in Bara on Sunday to chalk out their future strategy.

The participants resolved to shun their internal differences and adopt a collective stance against the merger.

The meeting unanimously demanded an immediate reversal of merger and empowering the people of these regions to make own decisions about their future.

The meeting also resolved to further strengthen the unity among the anti-merger organisations and groups while taking along the people of all the seven merged districts in their struggle against the repeal of the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

The meeting decided to form a cabinet of the new alliance along with suggesting a unanimous name for it.

Prominent among the participants were former federal minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Malak Bismillah Khan, Bazar Gul Afridi, Malak Mohammad Hussain, Hashim Khan, Haji Suhbat Khan and Haji Daud Afridi.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023