Governor KP assured the delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to relevant authorities and pledged serious efforts for peace and development in the tribal districts
LANDIKOTAL
A delegation of tribal elders, led by Malik Shah Mahmood and Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi, met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Khan Kundi on Sunday at the Governor House Peshawar and disscussed various issues inuding Fata merger abd it’s reversed affects on ten million tribals.
The delegation expressed deep concerns over the deteriorating security situation and the lack of development in tribal areas following the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The tribal leaders conveyed that instead of witnessing progress, the merger has brought more hardships for the tribal population. They highlighted increasing public frustration and worsening law and order conditions, which they said were pushing the region back into underdevelopment. The elders criticized the government for failing to honor the promises made during the merger process and for imposing decisions without consulting local communities.
Malik Busmillah Khan and Malik Abdur razaq Afridi told that the delegation demanded the revival of the traditional jirga system to ensure access to justice in accordance with tribal customs.
Malik Busmillah Khan Afridi said they appreciated the reforms made in the Frontier Crimes Regulations(FCR) during president Asif Ali Zardari’s last tenure and praised the Pakistan Peoples Party for consistently supporting tribal rights.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assured the delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to relevant authorities and pledged serious efforts for peace and development in the tribal districts.
The governor acknowledged that while the state had pledged Rs,100 billion for development and additional funds were promised under the Sartaj Aziz Commission, the full amount was never delivered.
He said the limited funds that were released were allegedly spent in select areas by the Chief Minister, sidelining the broader tribal population and fueling resentment among tribal youth against the merger.
The governor proposed forming a joint tribal jirga to draft a memorandum, based on which a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif could be arranged. The delegation appreciated Governor Kundi’s leadership and commitment to addressing tribal issues.
