PHOTO: FILE
The protesters started walking from Tank Press Club, and gathered in front of the political compound where the office of the political agent of South Waziristan Agency is located. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) SWA Senator Maulana Saleh Shah and JUI-F SWA MNA Maulana Jamaluddin also participated and addressed the protesters.
“We were assured, even promised, that unemployed youth of SWA will be hired, but all [those promises] seem futile as outsiders are given jobs, no matter what the pay-scale is,” said Jamaluddin.
“The outsiders hired are not familiar with our customs and traditions; they do not know or understand the issues faced by locals,” Jamaluddin added. “If the youth are given jobs, they will become responsible. It will also help them avoid the wrong kind of activities,” he said.
“Our tribe has been displaced and our people are facing a lot of problems, but instead of helping, our rights are taken away from us. We left our homes for the sake of this country,” said Shah in his address.
The government should pay attention to the problems of the displaced Mehsud tribe, demanded Shah, who is also from the same tribe.
The protesters alleged that employees, both in government and non-governmental organisations, are not only outsiders, but are also involved in corruption. They exploit the war-affected people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, added the protesting youth.
The youth demanded the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, K-P governor, FATA additional chief secretary and SWA political agent take action on the letter issued by the FATA Secretariat under the direction of the former governor. The letter stated all appointments in the secretariat—from BS-1 to BS-16—shall be made from Fata in all projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2016.
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