KOHAT
A grand Jirga of Orakzai tribal districts was held on Saturday against the merger of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
The speakers on this occasion demanded fresh census and abolishing of National Assembly seat following the new delimitation in the tribal districts.
The grand tribal jirga was held at Dabori, an area of Upper Sub Division, which was attended by a large number of tribal elders, Maliks, Ulema, tribesmen from all walks of life and tehsil chairman.
Speaking on the occasion, the elders said that the rulers had flattened the local traditions and customs, including the Jirga system and introduced the British-era judicial systems, which deteriorated the situation.
The speakers vented their anger against the alleged forced integration of FATA and said that the tribal people do not accept forced merger at all.
Rejecting the census, the leaders alleged that the census was conducted in the absence of the tribal people, which was against the principles of justice and a gross abuse and injustice to the tribal people.
Due to the merger of Ex- FATA, the basic rights of the tribal people were usurped and the resources of the tribes were seized by abolishing the tribal customs and traditions, the elders alleged.
“The National Assembly alone seat is now being abolished on the basis of incorrect statistics in the census, which is not acceptable to the tribal people”, the speakers expressed their grievances, adding that “Tribal are patriotic and loyal people who have made great sacrifices for the protection and integrity of the country”.
They demanded that the government reverse its cruel decision of FATA merger with KP and give the tribes free rein in their decisions otherwise they would not hesitate to use all other options including protest movement.
They announced that Black Day would be observed in Mishti Mela in Central Tehsil of Orakzai on May 31, 2022 in which the strategy for the future and to organize protest sit-ins at provincial and central level would be finalized.
