CHITRAL, May 23: MNA from Chitral Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali has demanded of the government to enforce the Gazette of Pakistan notification 1975 in Chitral according to which all forests, pastures and river beds are state property, but due to its non-implementation, litigations and public uprisings have mounted to a dangerous level.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that no government since 1975 dared to implement the said notification to relieve the common people and protect them against “the all-powerful royal family members” who have been in power one way or another.

He said that the royalty of

the timber derived from the forest should not go to the pockets of a few families but it must benefit all those poor people who reside in the vicinity of the forests.

He said that it was an acid test for the government of the MMA, which stands for justice and equity.

Maulana Chitrali warned that the public would be mobilized against the injustice if the notification was not enforced in letter and spirit.

He also demanded of the federal government to include all seven forts of Chitral in the archaeological sites and look after them and preserve them as part of the cultural heritage.

He said that the history of ancient Chitral was deeply connected with the forts and their preservation would be a great service to the people.