KHYBER: Fata Qaumi Jirga (FQJ) has announced to organise a ‘grand’ protest in Jamrud on May 8 against the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a news conference at Landi Kotal Press Club on Sunday, FQJ leaders Malak Bismillah Khan, Malak Abdur Razzaq, Malak Bahadar Shah, Haji Mohammadi Shah, Malak Tamash Khan and others said that the protest of May 8 would be a decisive moot against what they called forced and unconstitutional merger of erstwhile Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said that invitations were extended to all the anti-merger elements in the seven merged districts and hectic efforts were afoot to hold the demonstration in a forceful manner to convey a strong refusal of the plan to federal and provincial governments.

The elders said that neither tribesmen were taken into confidence about the merger plan nor were majority of the erstwhile Fata population in favour of doing away with their previous status. They said that tribesmen were still in favour of traditional jirga system for resolution of their disputes instead of the extension of judicial system to their regions.

They accused both the federal and provincial government of forceful possession of all the natural resources of tribal areas alongside depriving them of their share in the country’s resources.

The FQJ leaders alleged that Supreme Court of Pakistan too was dragging its feet on the formation of a larger bench for hearing of a petition they had submitted in 2019 against the passage of 25th Amendment, which unlawfully legalised the merger plan.

They threatened to hold a long march to Islamabad if rulers did not heed to their demand of a repeal of 25th Amendment after their May 8 demonstration in Jamrud.

Meanwhile, MPA Suhail Afridi paid tributes to the sacrifices of local journalists and vowed to work for resolution of their problems.

Talking to journalists during his visit to Bara Press Club on Sunday, he said that Bara journalists highlighted the problems and issues of the area without any fear while putting their lives at risk.

He said that it was highly commendable that Bara journalists were carrying out their professional duties in extremely odd circumstances and with limited resources. He promised to strive for provision of better facilities to the press club and resolving the longstanding problems of local journalists.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024