Tribal unrest: Jirga gives 10-day deadline to government

Wants Kohistan to be declared divisional headquarters of Abasin division.


Muhammad Sadaqat February 03, 2012

KOHISTAN:


A tribal jirga gave a 10-day deadline for declaring Kohistan the divisional headquarters of the proposed Abasin division on Wednesday, after which its members have threatened to stage a protest against the ANP government.


The jirga was convened to discuss the problems of the district and the provincial government’s recent decision to create another division within Hazara comprising of the remote and neglected regional districts of Torghar, Kohistan and Battagram.

Briefing the media after the jirga, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Asadullah Qureshi and Pakistan Muslim League-N’s Ghulam Saeed Khan stated that the deprivations of  Kohistanis were discussed in detail. They said that despite an abundance of natural resources in Kohistan, its people remain deprived of their fundamental rights and development in the region.

Jirga members noted that governments have traditionally regarded Kohistan with disdain, proved by the lack of civic amenities including health and education facilities. Victims of the 2010 floods have yet to be rehabilitated and the funds allocated for them had been redirected to Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti’s home district.

Earlier in October, 2011, Kohistanis blocked the Karakoram Highway for four consecutive days forcing Wapda Chairman Shakeel Durrani to enter into negotiations with tribesmen concerning the payment of compensation to landowners affected by Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2012.

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