PESHAWAR: The Uthmankhel scholars and researchers have demanded more political, economic and development opportunities for their tribe, which claims to be the largest tribe in Pakistan, settled in Bajaur, Momand, Malakand, Charsaddah, Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar and other parts of the country.

The demand was made at a meeting of the forum held here.

It was chaired by Dr Fasihuddin Ashraf, the patron-in-chief of the Uthmankhel tribe.

Prof Fakhrul Islam, Prof Yar Mohammad Tofaan, Prof Aftab, Dr Mohammad Ayaz, Prof Anwar Ali, Dr Tariq Uthman, Prof Idrees, Prof Iqbal Shakir, Dr Nisar Shamozai, Sajid Afghan, Sher Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Younas Khan Advocate, Prof Mehran, Rahmanullah Rahmani, Javed Khan, Nadeem Khan and former provincial finance minister Muzafar Said participated in the meeting.

The participants discussed the structure and functions of Majlis-i-Shura of Uthmankhel, a representative body to be set up shortly from all districts. The Uthmankhel think-tank demanded an amicable solution of the issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan through established norms of ‘Pakhtunwali’ and teachings of Islam.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026