North waziristan: APA, PA at loggerheads

PESHAWAR: The political agent (PA) and assistant political agent (APA) of North Waziristan Agency have been at loggerheads with each other, resulting in the transfer of the latter, late Thursday night. Razmak APA Fahad Ikram Qazi, in his report to the FATA Secretariat, said he was made to wait at Saidgi check post for five hours. Upon his enquiry, Qazi was told he was stopped from entering the agency based on an order of Political Agent Kamran Afridi. However, sources say Qazi was later asked to report to the Bannu Commissioner when he registered his complaint. APA Qazi, in his official report, made several accusations. He said when he went to the agency, all three offices of the political administration were closed. While the offices in Razmak and Dossali were made functional after ten years, the one in Ghariyum was made functional for the first time in history, according to Qazi’s report. Qazi said he was asked to not interfere or look into the spending of the office or point out irregularities under Afridi. The APA said he asked for funds for repairs but these were denied. In his report, the APA said he was asked to “take leave and rest at home”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th,  2016.