According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 12,442 families have migrated from the troubled Khyber Agency. This figure includes 85 families from Tirah Valley, who recently had to leave their livelihood, their homes to escape the violent battles taking place between militants and the Pakistan Army.

Haji Gul, from Bara, said his family had received electric fans last summer but had not received anything from the government or aid organisations this year. IDPs were facing prolonged electricity problems as well, added Gul.

“During the day we bear the heat, but at night we cannot sleep because of insects, mosquitoes. We stay awake all night to fan our children,” complained the father.

Muhammad Gul, an elderly person belonging to Tirah Valley, said there was an acute water shortage and the condition of the sanitation system made things worse for Jalozai residents. “Open gutters are dangerous for small children.”

Another displaced person, Awal Khan Afridi noted the tents were in a horrible condition and children were suffering from various sicknesses. “The doctor always prescribes the same tablets for every patient.”

Other IDPs had similar complaints – some mentioning  lack of cool drinking water and water coolers in the camp.

Meanwhile, Jalozai Camp Coordinator Khalid Usman maintained every kind of basic facility was being provided to the IDPs. The camp had been divided into eight phases and electricity has been made available in all phases recently, shared the coordinator.

Non-government organisations (NGO) were also helping provide basic necessities, added Usman. When asked about electric fans, he claimed no relief organisations had made contact with the administration in this regard yet.

Regarding the prolonged electricity outages, Usman stated the PDMA had paid the electricity bill in full, claiming this problem was not confined to Jalozai camp; it had engulfed the entire country.

Acute respiratory infection, skin diseases like scabies, and fever were common among IDPs living in the camp, and, Usman added, international organisations were working with the camp administration to provide all health related facilities to the IDPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2013.

According to a census report by the Education Management Information System (EMIS) in Fata, there are around 276 religious institutions in Fata and the FRs. Out of these, 147 are for males, 20 are for females and 109 are for both.

The number of full-time students enrolled in these institutions is 51,822, out of which 37,137 are male and 14,685 are female. There are 23,432 part-time students also enrolled in the seminaries.

There are 1,542 teachers, out of which 800 are for males, 154 are for females and 588 are teaching in co-education institutions.

As for the institutions themselves, 51 percent (140) are registered while 48 percent (132) are not registered. The remaining one percent chose not to answer the registration question.

Waqas Ahmad,11, a student of Tafheem-ul-Quran Madrassa in Teddy Bazaar, Jamrud tehsil said students are not only taught religious lessons but also contemporary subjects. “I was a student of government primary school in Jamrud, but my father enrolled me in this Madrassa,” he added.

Another student of the same seminary, 16-year-old Muhammad Sharif said he had initially been enrolled just for religious education, but now he was receiving standard 8th grade lessons as well. Sharif claimed the institution’s environment was suitable for both religious and contemporary education.

“I am very happy because in addition to learning 20 chapters of the Holy Quran by heart, I am also receiving contemporary 8th grade education,” he added.

Muhammad Azeem, a teacher at Tafheem-ul-Quran Madrassa said 850 students were enrolled in the institution, out of which 325 were female. He added the FATA Secretariat provided the school with help.

“The government has provided us with teachers and other basic necessities, promising the seminary will be upgraded to a higher level.”

Azeem explained in addition to getting religious education, parents also wanted their children to learn about the modern world. These institutes are better for both types of education, he added. According to Azeem, the seminary has a hostel facility for students with a separate section set up for female students. He claimed religious institutions were playing their role in providing guidance to the nation.

An official in the Zakat and Usher Department wishing not to be named said 318 religious institutions were currently working in Fata and the FRs, adding the FATA Secretariat was providing facilities to 22 religious institutions. The official further said the government had facilitated these institutions and provided basic facilities including teaching staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) following the historic general elections after receiving a majority of women and youth votes.

While older and middle-aged voters preferred to vote in favour of candidates representing traditional parties, the youth, especially college and university students, fully supported the PTI by visiting polling stations in huge numbers on Election Day.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Adnan Sarwar, Chairperson of the International Relations Department at the University of Peshawar (UoP), said the youth’s participation in politics was a good omen for democracy.

“The youth of Pakistan in general, and K-P in particular, is very patriotic which is why PTI’s slogans of bringing change and ‘Naya Pakistan’ motivated them to reject parties which swept the polls in 2008,” Sarwar said.

He added thousands of new voters aged between 18 and 25 came out on Election Day and around 80% of them voted for the PTI.  According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the total turnout was 60% while Sarwar said the youth turnout was 50%.

Interestingly, women in both rural and urban areas were also seen voting on May 11.

Soniya Ambreen, who heads the Political Science Department at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, said it was the first time in K-P’s history that women had participated in the elections with such fervour. Ambreen said a majority of female students voted for the PTI because around 25% of the party’s ticket holders were youngsters below the age of 35. No other party catered to this section of society, she added.

“This is real democracy,” Ambreen said, adding she herself witnessed students of all disciplines actively sharing their views and comments regarding politics on social media forums during the election campaign.

“The people of K-P and Fata are not safe even inside their homes today because of the previous government’s policies,” said Muhammad Abbas, a student of Sociology at UoP. “We wanted peace and change which is why we voted for PTI.” Abbas also said Imran Khan had showed himself to be a great leader, claiming this was the reason he was supported by the youth.

Saiful Islam, a student of the Political Science Department, said the previous government had worked for its own interests only. He expressed hope that the PTI would work for the development of the country.

“I personally ran a campaign for the PTI, and all of my classmates and friends voted for the party,” he said. “I hope the party will fulfil the promises it made during its campaign.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Human rights activist and peace award winner Shad Begum vowed to continue her struggle for women’s voting rights in Lower Dir, especially as a large number of women were denied their right to vote on Election Day.

Begum told The Express Tribune all political parties in Upper and Lower Dir on March 22 had decided to support women’s right to vote. “However, on May 10, local activists of these parties held meetings in mosques and took oath on the Holy Quran to not allow women to cast their votes,” she claimed.

While the number of registered women voters in Lower Dir is nearly 200,000, only 200 women voters turned up to poll for PK-94. For PK-95, women were a no-show, whereas only 120 voted for the PK-96 seat.

“All women in Dir were looking forward to take part in the electoral process, but the ban by political parties denied them their constitutional right,” said Begum.

She said the Election Commission of Pakistan had announced they will reject results from a constituency where the turnout of female voters was less than 10%. She claimed ECP also promised re-polling will be conducted where there was evidence of women being denied their right along with cancelling party licences if they were found guilty of being involved in facilitating electoral irregularities.

Citing these claims, she appealed to the ECP to take action against those who denied women their vote.

Meanwhile, a large number of people protested in Lower Dir against the ban and also chanted slogans against the ECP and political parties on Wednesday.

Addressing to the protesters, candidate for NA-34 Nasrat Begum said women have been deprived of their rights through a joint conspiracy of political parties in Lower Dir. She said she was contesting elections for the first time and claimed she could have won if women were allowed to vote.

A paper bearing an agreement barring women from voting in Dir surfaced earlier this week and is available with The Express Tribune. Signatures of those who endorsed the decision include JUI-F’s Haji Abdur Rehman Khan, PPP’s Malik Rehmatullah, JI’s Aizazul Mulk Afkari, PTI’s Dr Nazeer, ANP’s Abdul Wahid, Rah-e-Haq’s Qari Ubaidullah and PML-N’s Dr Deedar.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Ever been stuck during an exam and wished you had a manual to guide you through? Your wish might just have come true.

The new ‘pocket-sized’ guides – costing a mere Rs30 to Rs50 – are readily available in various book shops ahead of the FA/FSc exams scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow). The handy booklets cover almost all subjects and come in a wide range of variety.

Saddar, University Road, Khyber Bazaar, Coffee Shop Market in University of Peshawar and Forest College Bazaar are just some of the places where you can easily pick up these ‘magic’ books on your way home on an exam night.

“I do study for my exams, but I bring pocket [guides] for ‘emergencies’,” said Sohail Ahmad, a student concerned about doing well in his exam. He maintained sometimes there are questions in the paper, answers to which he has not learned properly. “I then use the ‘pocket’,” he added, lightening up at the prospect of a peaceful night before the exam.

Peace Education and Development Foundation Programme Manager Tariq Hayat Khan, however, does not agree with the notion of pocket guides making life easy for students. “These books have kept students away from studying for exams; it promotes cheating.”

He said students go around exercising the “corrupt practice” without any fear. “Students at master’s level also cheat,” he added.

Suggesting stern action against publications that release these manuals, Khan, however, admitted the only way to eradicate the practice was to remove the concept of cheating from society.

Shopkeepers, on the other hand, are happy with their sales. “We brought 500 books; almost all are sold!” said a visibly pleased Shahzad Ali, a shopkeeper in Forest College Bazaar.

Affordability seems not to be an issue when the need is so dire. The shopkeeper said some students buy two or three ‘pockets’ so if one is confiscated, they can bring out reinforcements. Defending his young customers, Ali added teachers and parents are equally responsible for an increase in the trend of cheating.

The practice, however, does not always go unpunished.

During intermediate examinations last year, around 584 students were caught cheating, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar Chairman Muhammad Shafi told The Express Tribune.

“Our teams raid these examination centres and charge students caught using unfair means to pass their exams,” he said, adding a fine is usually imposed on those found guilty.

“In the previous matriculation exams, I cancelled duties of the teachers who were found assisting the students in cheating,” said Shafi. He appealed to all parents to keep a check on their children and oppose such practices.

Six examination centres have been set up across the province in Peshawar, Charsadda, Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency, FR Peshawar and Chitral for the 43,378 students registered to appear for their intermediate part-I exams and 45,913 students for intermediate part-II.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: His campaign stands out; his political speeches are embedded with poetic nuances, and well-loved verses. As poet Rahmat Shah Sail embarks on his political journey, he does it in his trademark eloquence.

A large number of people attend his public meetings, wishing to not only hear Sail but also his poetry which is themed around the Pukhtun struggle, rooted in the values of Pukhtunwali.

Contesting from the Awami National Party (ANP) platform as a contestant for NA-35 Malakand Agency, Sail is a first-time candidate but his affiliation with the ANP is not new. Since 2006, he has been the chief editor of Pakhtun magazine, a Bacha Khan Markaz (ANP provincial head office in Peshawar) publication.

Ilyas Khan from Sakhakot does not mind leaving his general store for some time to attend Sail’s gatherings because it gives him a chance to listen to his poetry about revolution; about a socio-political movement built around peace.

“I used to listen to his (Sail) audio tapes. I have also read his poetry books and now I get to listen to him live so often. He is a public figure in the area.”

Waqas Ali from Dargai has a shop in the same neighbourhood where Sail has a tailoring outlet.

“He (Sail) still tends to his tailoring shop, though only occasionally now due to his political engagements. But Sail is a popular figure. People follow him whenever he appears in the bazaar to get a moment with him.”

And that is precisely what strikes a chord with the locals – Sail is one of them.

Born in 1950 in Wartier, Dargai, Malakand Agency, Sail had to drop out of school in class three due to financial constraints. He had to help his father support their family of nine, including six sisters.

The poet is naturally gifted. Even without substantial formal education, Sail was able to master Pashto, and has a firm grasp of written and spoken Urdu.

The same spirit drives and shapes his political venture. The candidate is becoming increasingly more vibrant as he addresses an increasing audience close to elections.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sail said, “I will show everyone that a person, who is not financially stable enough, can be a stable contester in the political arena.”

It is easy for Sail to trace out how he went from tailoring to poetry. As early as 15, he would be found experimenting with verses as he worked at the tailoring shop.

Appreciation from listeners encouraged Sail to hone his verses to a fine skill. Eventually the poet within him surfaced and he compiled several books, including Daweer pa chum ka war da naghmo (In the Valley of lament, an echoing melody)and Da lambo pa soori.

His recent verses speak of peace and development for Pukhtuns in the region. Sail maintains the soil is rich with various kinds of resources and identifies the need of the hour to be peace for Pukhtuns. This, in his opinion, will afford them an environment where development can take place.  “Real politics is to bring the nation at par with other nations of the world,” he asserts.

Other players in NA-35

Besides Sail, 10 other contestants are also in the run for the Malakand seat.

Various political forces have won this seat in the past, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

According to Imtiaz Ali Shah, who is familiar with local politics, currently the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) seems to be the major political force in Malakand while the ANP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are not far behind in popularity.

“Youngsters have raised their voice for change and people want to try new faces in the next government,” Shah added.

Shah Zubair Khan, an elder of the area, said PPP leader Lal Muhammad Khan is also a strong contender from the constituency. Lal secured NA-35 in the 2008 elections with a huge margin.

JI candidate Maulana Inayatur Rehman won in the 2002 elections from an MMA ticket.

Sail has penned fresh material for the 2013 elections. An anthology of 11 poems circles around the theme of politics and elections. Here are some of his verses: 

Pe zra chaodon me da gul ghundi khanda kre da,

Mata de khpal watan bala khokolo dua kre da.

In blossoming like a flower, I have smiled with pathos

For, the prayers of the people of my land, has reduced my agony

Da vote ow note soda kho mata nawy kufar khkari,

Na me da khpel na me da bal da sar sauda kre da.

This lucrative barter (buying votes) is a newer infidelity

Neither will be sold, nor have others traded

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2013.

The camp administration reports that up to 12,083 families of the Khyber Agency, particularly from the Tirah Valley in Bara, are accommodated at the camp which is located 35 kilometres from Peshawar. While they shelter here, their home is a warzone as the Pakistan army combats the combined forces of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Lashkar-e-Islam in the Tirah Valley.

Party flags of different colours and sizes flutter at the Jalozai camp entrance, while banners and posters dot the exteriors of brick-walled houses and sheds.

Noor Akbar Afridi, the camp incharge said political parties have been asked to set up their offices outside the camp for security reasons.

Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl and various independent candidates have set up camps here, and each is getting an eager response.

The displaced individuals refuse to be discouraged by the violence they have encountered in the past. They are eager to battle through the ballot.

“Our houses were demolished, our businesses shut, our education institutes were destroyed; but now we want peace and will vote for those who are sincere to this land and its people,” says one Hussain Shah from Bara.

But not all are as hopeful as Shah, the very sight of banner enrages the elderly Amin Gul Afridi. “Political leaders are now visiting us just to win votes,” he said. “Where were they when we were facing difficulties?”

But it seems his is a minority opinion. However disillusioned and traumatised these internal refugees may be, they still seem hopeful that a change is in the air.

Dawalat Khan a worker of the Jamaat-e-Islami, happily noted that the IDPs of Jalozai were taking an interest in political activity.

Khan said that the increased enthusiasm for elections stemmed from people’s desire for a change, and that they were eagerly waiting for May 11.

Iqbal Afridi, a candidate for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said his party had started campaigning within the camp, adding that he was hopeful that many people will vote for the PTI. He said that 20 candidates will contest election from NA-46, where the total registered voters are 175,000.

The PTI candidate said that 16 polling stations will be established in the camp and separate stations will be established for women.

From all indications, it seems the majority of the camp inhabitants will come out and vote.

“I will vote because it is my right, said Baghcha Gul who hails from Tirah. “I will vote for those who bring peace in the area.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2013.

Those in on the race are Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Akram Khan Durrani, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Pir Sabir Shah and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao. Hoti, Durrani and Khan will be contesting for both national and provincial assembly seats, while Shah and Sherpao will run only for a provincial and national assembly seat, respectively.

The prospect of clinching a seat in the upcoming elections, however, remains unclear for the former chief ministers. “They are very cautious about their future and are contesting for both provincial and national seats for political insurance,” said analyst Aqeel Yousafzai.

“Contesting for an NA seat acts as a bargaining tool; if the contestant’s party fails to get majority votes in the province and they have no chance of becoming the chief minister, they can opt for the national assembly,” maintained Yousafzai.

Running from more than one constituency indicates that these people are financially well-off and can afford to campaign for elections, which is why parties award them tickets, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: In compliance with court orders, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to set up polling stations for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at their respective camps.

The decision was taken during a meeting attended by the secretary of Home and Tribal Affairs Department, K-P inspector general of police, political agents of various tribal agencies and representatives of the election commission’s K-P chapter. The meeting was chaired by the K-P chief secretary.

Qamar Ali, a spokesman of the home department told The Express Tribune the decision had been taken in compliance with court orders, adding since only a few days were left till the elections, a meeting was held on Sunday in order to plan for the situation in advance.

“It has been decided IDPs will not be deprived of their basic right to vote, and polling stations will be set up at their respective camps to facilitate their ballots,” Ali said.

He explained polling stations will be established in Jalozai Camp and Hangu for those IDPS who migrated from Orakzai Agency. Stations in Tank and DI Khan, on the other hand, will enable displaced persons of South Waziristan to cast their vote, he said. Ali added a camp would also be set up in Shahkas area for the displaced persons of Khyber Agency.

Hundreds of thousands of tribesmen were displaced because of the ongoing clashes between various militant groups and security agencies. While some have temporarily settled with their relatives or in rented houses, most have been resigned to relocate to the miserable conditions of IDP camps with hopes of returning to their homes once peace is established in their areas.

However, this quest for peace was marred when militants began targeting them in settled areas amid election campaigns.

On Sunday, the election offices of independent tribal candidates for NA-39 and NA-46 came under attack in Kohat and Peshawar. In Kohat, at least four people were killed, while 22 others were injured when a bomb exploded near Mian Noor Akbar’s election office. Similarly, in another bomb blast near the election office of NA-46 candidate Haji Nasar Khan at Charsadda Road in Peshawar, two people were killed and another 20 were injured.

Supporters of tribal candidates for the National Assembly have set up election offices in various suburban areas of Peshawar and Kohat, where large numbers of IDPs have settled with their host families.

Sohbat Khan Afridi, the chairman of Tehreek-e-Mutasreen Bara, a representative body of IDPs from Khyber Agency, while condemning the attacks on tribal candidates claimed the persisting assaults were a failure on the part of the government to protect the lives of tribesmen.

However, Afridi rejected the notion that the blast on Charsadda Road was a targeted attack on campaigning tribesmen. He maintained the incident was part of a current wave of violence against election gatherings and political parties in general.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2013.

On Saturday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) kicked off the registration process in Jarma, Kohat, where tight security measures have been adopted for the protection of the IDPs. On March 21, 2013, a bomb went off near a food distribution point in Jalozai camp, killing 15 and injuring more than 40 others. The incident raised serious questions about security arrangements at the camp.

PDMA Chief Coordinator Faiz Muhammad Khan said after the IDPs register themselves they can live in the New Durrani Camp with host families, adding the PDMA would provide tents, foods, non-food items and health facilities. Khan further said the government had decided to accommodate the IDPs in New Durrani Camp, Kurram, and Togh Sarai Camp in Hangu due to security concerns.

He encouraged IDPs to register as they would not be able to receive rations or other facilities from government and UN agencies if they did not.

However, leaving Jalozai may not be an option for some IDPs from Tirah. Around 620 families from the troubled valley claim they cannot afford to travel from Jalozai to Kohat.

Mohabat Khan, a displaced elder from Maidan in Tirah Valley, shares his family’s tent with seven relatives. He said large numbers of people who fled their homes during the ongoing clashes were now compelled to share tents with other IDPs from Bara, who have been living at the camp for much longer. “We are not properly registered in the camp,” he added, “but we need food, clothing, household items, and above all shelter to protect our families.”

Another IDP Khalil Afridi said the camp in charge had told them to move to New Durrani Camp where registration for Tirah’s displaced persons had begun. However, Afridi maintained most IDPs could not afford to go to Kurram Agency. “We have already borrowed money to come to Peshawar,” he said. They should be registered in Jalozai as many people had relatives there, insisted Afridi.

Jalozai Camp Coordinator Khalid Usman said so far 620 families from Tirah had been accommodated at the camp. He added these people were being provided food and non-food items. In addition, Usman mentioned around 12,083 families from Khyber Agency were also settled in the camp and added the government and UN agencies had reservations over the security situation in Jalozai Camp.

Fata Disaster Management Authority Assistant Director Farman Ali Khilji said

5,134 families had been registered in New Durrani Camp, 778 of who were living in the camp itself, while 4,356 families were living off camp in the agency. He said cooked food, tents and non-food items had also been provided to the camp’s residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2013.