LOWER DIR: Speakers at a function here on Sunday vowed to unite all Pakhtun tribes for raising collective voice for their rights.

The function was arranged by Yousafzai tribe in Timergara.

The Yousafzai tribal elders from Lower and Upper Dir, Swat, Malakand, Buner, Swabi and Shangla districts and political and social activists attended the function.

Former provincial minister Malik Jehanzeb, former MPA Malik Behram Khan, Ahmad Ali Khan from Swabi, Malik Barkat Khan, Malik Ibrahim Khan, Rehmat Shah Sahil and others spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the newly-elected president of Yousafzai Aalami Jirga Malik Jehan Alam Yousafzai was warmly received at Chakdara on his arrival to the district after the election; and he was brought to the event in a vehicular procession.

The speakers said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had the foremost right over their resources. They said that a proxy war was being waged in the Pakhtun belt under a planned conspiracy. They said that Pakhtuns would no longer tolerate such a war on their soil.

The speakers said that all Pakhtun tribes would be united under a single banner so that they could fight for their rights effectively.

They congratulated Jehan Alam for his election as chief of the Yousafzai Aalami Jirga and said that he had the capability to unite different tribes. They said the Yousafzai elders would repeat the history of their forefathers, including Malik Ahmad Khan Baba and others, who defeated the Mughals and British despite their limited resources.

They said the history of Yousafzai tribe was replete with freedom struggle, and that the tribe would continue its efforts to win rights for Pakhtuns.

AFGHAN REFUGEES: Noted social and human rights activist Ikramullah Yousafzai has said that state and citizens should make collective efforts to maintain brotherly relations with neighbouring Afghanistan.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting with the Shura members of Afghan refugees at the Chakdara refugee camp on Sunday.

Anjuman-i-Tajiran representative Khawaja Faizul Ghafoor and members of local Islahi Jirga were also present.

During the meeting, he was informed about the issues faced by the inmates of the refugee camp.

He assured the shura members of taking up the issues faced by the Afghans regarding education, clean drinking water, students’ visas and patients seeking treatment in Pakistan with the UNHCR authorities and the government of Pakistan.

Mr Yousafzai said a peaceful Afghanistan was necessary for a peaceful Pakistan. He said both the states should cooperate to keep the region peaceful.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025