K-P CM seeks Rs550b in unpaid dues

BARA:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has demanded that the federal government immediately release Rs550 billion in pending dues for the tribal districts and Rs2,200 billion in net hydropower arrears.

Speaking at the grand peace jirga in Bara, Khyber district, on Saturday, the chief minister urged the immediate convening of the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting.

"We are not asking for charity; we are demanding our rightful share," he asserted.

Afridi announced that a series of peace jirgas would be held across the tribal districts, culminating in a Loya Jirga, and warned that failure to implement its declaration would have "dangerous consequences".

He also vowed to fight "till the last limit" for the rights of the merged tribal districts and asserted that no new military operations will be permitted in the region. He said all major decisions would be made in consultation with elected representatives and tribal elders, "not behind closed doors".

The chief minister praised the tribal people's sacrifices for Pakistan's survival and security, stressing that the promises made to them during the merger with K-P must now be fulfilled.

"The tribal people have given countless sacrifices for Pakistan's existence and safety. It is time the commitments made to them at the time of merger are honoured," he said.

"No more military operations will be allowed. Under the name of operations, innocent tribesmen are being martyred. Tribesmen cannot be sacrificed for dollars any longer. If an innocent person loses his life, there will be accountability," he said.

The jirga, which drew thousands of participants, was attended by MNA Iqbal Afridi, MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Khan Wali of Jamaat-e-Islami, Asghar Khan (PML-N district president) and Walat Khan of the PPP, along with tribal elders including Malik Waris and Khan Marjan Wazir. JUI-F Bara president Masqeem also participated.

The chief minister said the people of Khyber had defended Pakistan's borders since independence, ensuring no enemy dared cross them. "Tribal people sacrificed their homes and hujras for Pakistan, but their loyalty and services were always ignored," he said.

Afridi said the history of Khyber testifies that no outsider ever ruled the area. "Accepting Pakistan was our own decision. We were, are, and will remain Pakistanis."

Recalling the post-9/11 period, the CM said, "After 9/11, certain decision-makers imposed someone else's war on the tribal regions, destroying our people, homes and society. We made every sacrifice for Pakistan, but we will not offer any more."

Afridi added that peace jirgas would be held across all merged districts before convening a Loya Jirga to draft a unified strategy for peace and development. "As long as I hold this office, I will fight for the protection of the people's rights," he pledged.

The chief minister said the tribal people were proud Pakistanis who had defended the country's frontiers without seeking privileges. "Now is the time to fulfil the promises made to them so that deprivation ends and peace is built on lasting foundations," he said.

Afridi was warmly received on arrival, with the Shalobar Qaumi Council erecting a grand welcome gate at Charai Sar, where the newly elected chief minister was showered with rose petals.