PESHAWAR:
In addition to the National Identity Card (NIC), the government has made additional identity documentation – either the ‘Registration Card’ or the ‘Rahdaree’ – mandatory for South Waziristan’s Mehsud tribe due to militancy in the region.
A few thousand tribesmen, mostly former Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have returned to their homes, have provided the Registration Card for travelling between the Wana, Ladha and Sarwakai sub-divisions of South Waziristan and the settled areas of Pakistan. The remaining hundreds of thousands Mehsud tribesmen must first obtain the Rahdaree from the local political administration before they are allowed free movement from the region.
The Rahdaree is mandatory for the Mehsuds only; other South Waziristani tribes like the Wazirs, Dottanis and Suliman Khels are exempted. Those issued the Registration cards are similarly exempted from obtaining Rahdaree. Women and boys younger than 12 years of age are exempt as well.
The term ‘Rahdaree’ is the Urdu equivalent of travel permit. It is meant to clarify that the Mehsud tribesman who has been granted permission to travel is not militant. The document contains the reasons for requesting the Rahdaree, signatures from two tribal elders (Maliks) and the Assistant Political Agent (APA) of the concerned sub-division in South Waziristan along with a stamp from the latter’s office. The document allows travelling permission for a limited duration, usually three to 12 days, following which it expires.
In addition to being a requirement for Mehsud tribesmen travelling from Wana to Ladha, Sarwakai and settled areas in the country, it is also mandatory for tribesmen entering South Waziristan from the settled areas. They need to obtain Rahdaree from the Tank Political Compound (PC) before they are allowed entry to South Waziristan.
Khan Zeb, 47, is an IDP from South Waziristan living in Tank. While waiting for the Rahdaree at the Tank PC, told The Express Tribune that in order to request the document one had to pay Rs100 to an application writer and then another Rs100-300 to a person at the door of the APA’s office. He added that without paying the latter, a tribesman would be unable to get the Rahdaree.
Khan Zeb claimed hundreds of Mehsud tribesmen could be seen waiting for the document at the political courts of various sub-divisions in South Waziristan.
“We need the Rahdaree to travel to our own lands, places where we have lived since time immemorial,” he lamented, adding that the government needed to stop this discrimination against the Mehsuds.
According to local journalist Farooq Mehsud, he received an enraged response when he asked the Ladha sub-division APA for the moral and legal justification of the Rahdaree. “The APA threatened to imprison me under the Frontier Crimes Regulation if I questioned the Rahdaree system,” he claimed.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) senator and chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on the State and Frontier Regions Muhammad Saleh Shah Mehsud maintained he tried raising the issue before high military and civilian officials but was told the system was necessary due to security concerns.
“Subjecting the whole Mehsud tribe for the misdeeds of a few militants is unjust, discriminatory and unacceptable,” he added.
High Court advocate and senior member of the Fata Lawyers Forum Abdul Karim Mehsud shared Saleh Shah’s sentiments. He said the system was in clear violation for Article 15 of the Constitution of Pakistan which guarantees every citizen the ‘freedom of movement’. He urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudary and other human rights organizations to take notice of the issue.
The political agent of South Waziristan was unavailable for comments on the Rahdaree system. Another senior official of the South Waziristan political administration, however, told The Express Tribune that “the system is for their (Mehsud tribe) own good.” Talking on condition of anonymity, he stressed that the government and military were taking utmost care of Mehsud IDPs, adding that much development work was being done in their areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
It is quite unfortunate that being Pakistani the tribal people have been treated as an alien and step brother, but people of waziristan have been humiliated for the last one decade on one or the other pretext. I think its enough to test someone patriotism, and now we should be given patriotism and loyalty certificate if all these operations and suppressions meant for.
The on-going various tactics to press the Meshud tribe are not only shameful, but contrary to all national and international laws, which should be opposed with full force on all fora so that not only to come to an end the ugly practices but also to make them….forces using us for vested interests…realize that enough is enough.
In this regard, our elected leadership role are very shameful, as they never speak reasonably on the issues being confronted with people of the areas, as they are more concern about their own seats in parliament rather to speak for those who helped them reach to the incumbent position.
Being citizens of Pakistan why tribal are created under different laws, so until and unless the tribal are divided the dream to break the fetters of century-old-legacy could not be realized.
Milatpa and Jalal Sahib, U are right, but it is unfortunate that our government, media and even civil societies's members age not going to take interest and talk about " the Rahdaree Issue faced by the Mahsud tribe" in South Waziristan. this so called media and civil society;'s members, leaving the government a side, are only interested in bomb blasts, drone strikes etc to be heard from Waziristan. I think, for the first time, an important social issue ( Rahdaree)is touched and needs due consideration from both Higher Judiciary and Human Rights Organizations..............but again, even the judiciary will not take interest.
great job by the express tribune and must be appriciated first of all this is violation of the fundamental rights given under the constitution of Pakistan, The Chief Justice of Pakistan, should take a suo moto notice against this barbaric act because the Tribal are also the equal citizens of pakistan and every individual have the rights of free movement within the country...its the clear violation of human rights and also the constitution of pakistan
I think the tribal area of Paksiatn is now viewed a balck hole to accomodate the strategic assets that is the proxies of Paksiatn, in our military circles in a long-drawn future war to be fought for the so called protection of Paksiatn.It is high time to change this stupid approach.Paksiatn should try anew,to win the hearts and minds of the educated people of FATA, by extending the constitution of Pakistan to the Tribal Region.Moreover our bereaved people need special care, concessions and incentives in various fields of life, to bring them at par with the advanced areas of Paksiatn.
@Criminal Waziristani: You are absolutely right.We are not human beings in the eyes of Govt.of Pakistan.The inhabitants of Waziristan,are such a force of Pakistan, who do not seek any kind of compensation for their duty in defense of Pakistan's boundaries which comprises with Afghanistan.In spite of all of these,such a treatment with Mehsud,is really condemnable.I do hope that,soon Government of Pakistan realize this act of condemn.
yes this issue with mehsud tribe from about three year and we all appeal to cj to take action against this act ...
ET is like our Mulvis cannot digest the bitter truth about Pakistan. Do not publish my comment and I will never comment but please do not claim impartiality.
Enough is enough.We,the tribal people must say no to FCR.The FCR has kept us in virtual bondage.We are patriotic Pakistanis, but as a reward, the state of Pakistan is adamant on denying the basic human rights.The Constitution of Pakistan doesnt apply to us; the supreme court of Pakistan has no jurisdiction our FATA: what a joke. If we are Pakistanis then the State of Pakistan must consider us the normal and equal citizens of this country, and must extend the constitional cover, to protect us from the evil claws of the forces of corruption and brutality.
@Abdul khan Jabar: Pakistan consider them as uncivilized Barbarians. Read my comment once again.
Criminal Waziristani/ so bad, that u call the tribal people uncivilized and unequal. the tribal are the most civilized as the believe in some norms, the tribal unwritten code of conduct known as the tribal Paththunwalli... that is based on humanity, islam and human rights. there is nothing wrong with them, but they are suffering due to the wrong policies of others.... u did hurt the feeling of the patriotic Pakistani tribal.
This act is condemnable.Govt.Should treat us equally and give us right which is given us by Constitution of Pakistan.Chief Justis of Pakistan should take action.
this is violation of the fundamental right given under the constitution of Pakistan, " freedom of movement" Chief Justice of Pakistan, should take a suo moto notice... these people are paksitani, too and they also deserve the same as others citizens of Pakistan are enjyoing..
It is a perfect example of violation of constitution.According to the constitution,Govt.cannot imposed ban citizen in movement of placing.We strongly condemn this action and we make a strong appeal before Chief Justis to take immediate action in this regard and explain article 15 of the Constitution of Pakistan which make surety of mobilization of citizen. Thanks.
AOA
thanks Tribune nd reporter Zulfiqar Ali, this issue solution is of most importance for us,http://en.rsf.org/pakistan-harsh-law-used-to-threaten-25-07-2012,43104.html
The issue is of utmost concern and thanks to those who highlighted it. We apply to CJ to take suo moto notice and provide relief to us.