Speakers call for fair polls in NMDs

This has been the conclusion of a one-day conference organised by a local organisation in Hangu

PESHAWAR: Speakers at a conference have called for holding free, fair and transparent elections to the provincial assembly seats in the newly merged areas. This will not only include people in the political process and give them their due share in the decision making process but also put an end to the decades-long sense of deprivations they have developed over the years.

This was the conclusion of a one-day conference organized by a local organization at Hangu, the headquarters of Orakzai tribal district. The event titled, “The upcoming provincial assembly elections in the newly merged areas: People’s fears and hopes” attracted parliamentarians, political, social and human rights activists, legal experts, educationalists, health professionals, policy experts, and members of the civil society, students and youth organizations beside a large number of media persons.

They demanded of the government to allocate at least two provincial seats to the war-hit Orakzai tribal district in order to better raise voices of the war-effected people in the legislative forums.

Some of the participants showed concerns over the slow pace of reforms. They said people had associated great expectations with the PTI-led government but things were not moving as quickly as expected which were causing frustrations amongst the masses.

Dispelling this impression some of the participants, however said that Sehat Insaf card, government’s roazgar scheme and induction of levis and khasdars into regular police force were some of the glaring examples that speak for government’s commitments’ and seriousness towards mainstreaming the newly merged districts.

Coupled with sectarian and communal tensions, the area saw the rising tide of militancy that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee from their homes. The speakers called for early rehabilitation of the TDPs, reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure and a decent compensation to the war victims.

The participants said the area had great potentials for tourism. They pointed out Sampog area have great potentials for tourist attractions. This could be a great source of revenue generation if the government pay due attention to its development.

They urged the government that poverty-stricken area needed government attention. Some of the participants recommended increased bilateral trade with Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2019.