Jirga for resolution to Regi Town dispute

Commissioner chaired jirga between Kokikhel tribe, PDA representatives to address this 37-year-old dispute

NOWSHERA:

Commissioner of Peshawar Division, Muhammad Zubair, emphasized the administration’s commitment to resolving the longstanding Regi Model Town dispute through Pashtun cultural norms and consensus among all parties involved.

Recognizing the urgency to address this 37-year-old contention, the Commissioner highlighted the genuine desire among respondents to find an amicable resolution to the dispute.

Chairing a Jirga between the Kokikhel tribe of Khyber district and representatives from the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), the Commissioner was joined by DC Shah Fahad, DC Khyber Abdul Nasir, Collector PDA Mujahid, and tribal leaders including Malik Barkat Afridi and Malik Yusuf Afridi.

During the Jirga, the Commissioner listened to the concerns of both parties and instructed PDA officials to furnish a comprehensive record of the matter by the following week. Additionally, he called for a meeting with members from previous Jirgas next week, focusing on resolving the Regi issue.

Underscoring the commitment to a lasting solution, the Commissioner of Peshawar Division announced the establishment of weekly Jirgas aimed at untangling this prolonged matter. Since 1986, a dispute over ownership of Zone-1, Zone-II, and Zone-V of Regi Model Town has pitted the Kokikhel tribe against the Peshawar Development Authority, effectively halting construction activities in these areas. Numerous plot buyers have been plagued by challenges arising from this conflict and have appealed to the Commissioner to personally intervene and resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2023.