HARIPUR: Elders of Tanoli tribe on Tuesday demanded the creation of the Tanawal district comprising the areas inhabited by members of their tribe in Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra.

The demand was made through a unanimously adopted resolution during the oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected provincial and district cabinets of the All Pakistan Tanoli Ittehad in Khalabat Township here on Tuesday.

Former MNA and chief of the Tanoli tribe Nawab Salauddin Saeed was the guest of honour who administered the oath to the new office-bearers of the provincial body of the All Pakistan Tanoli Ittehad.

Noted among speakers were former provincial minister Ibrar Hussain Tanoli, central president of the ittehad Shoaib Khan Tanoli, secretary Jamil Tanoli, chief patron Sabir Hussain Tanoli and leader Qazi Nisar Ahmad Khan Tanoli.

Former MNA Nawabzada Salauddin said that his tribe has rendered unmatched sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan and the development of the Tarbela Dam.

“We abandoned our independent princely state of Amb in favour of Pakistan, accepting the separation of our families and thousands of acres of agricultural land for the Tarbela dam project,” he said.

Mr Salauddin said that in return, the Tanoli tribe was forced to scatter across four districts and denied fundamental development rights.

He lamented that the creation of Tanwal district consisting of areas inhabited by their tribe had remained their unfulfilled demand for decades despite repeated requests.

The participants unanimously adopted a resolution, asking the provincial government to create Tanawal district without altering its boundaries.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2026