Elders appeal top officials for repossession of land

Demands stern action against Mohmand’s political administration

PESHAWAR: Elders of a tribe have appealed to the president, prime minister and army chief to help them reclaim 300 acres of hilly land from an influential contractor who has illegally occupied it.

The contractor allegedly occupied the land in connivance with the Mohmand Agency’s political administration (PA) and the Mines and Mineral Department.



Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Assistant Prof Siyar Khan alleged that the concerned department leased an area of 70 square yards to the contractor, Siraj Khan. However, Siraj allegedly occupied 300 acres of the hilly area.

Siyar – flanked by other elders of Musal Khel tribe – said it was an injustice with the tribe.

“We contacted the department to retrieve the grabbed area for the tribe but nothing was done. Later on June 20, 2016, a jirga headed by Malik Izzat Khan was held, in which the contractor was asked to confine his activities to his land and to hand over the rest of the land to Ajeer Khan of Musal Khel.

Ajeer Khan, according to him, had signed a new agreement with Haji Tehmash Khan on behalf of his tribe but the contractor still controls the hills illegally. He accused the contractor of greasing the palm of the political administration and officers of the mine department.



“Over 300 tribal people also went to the contractor and requested him to vacate the land. During an ensuing argument and an exchange of gunfire several people sustained injuries. However, the political administration instead of returning the area arrested the elders,” he added.

He said the tribesmen later lodged a protest but the administration, using the FCR, imposed a fine of Rs20m on Ajeer Khan, and others.

Siyal demanded that stern action be taken against the PA for using the FCR for his ‘vested interest’ and favouring illegal exploration of minerals. “However, if our demands are not accepted then the PA and mine department will be responsible for any eventuality,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2017.