Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Narratives from the front line
A collection of ordinary narratives, snapshots of lives lived that come together and make an extraordinary spectrum.
In May last year, Samina Baig became the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain with a peak at 8,848 metres. She completed the climb at around 7:30am local time with her brother Mirza Ali, who is the third and youngest Pakistani male to scale the mountain.
A collection of ordinary narratives, snapshots of lives lived that come together and make for an extraordinary spectrum.
Timeline
Jan 8: K-P Assembly passes The Elimination of Custom of Ghag Act 2013 By Dec 7, K-P became the first province to enact an updated Right To Information law.
May 11: PTI wins in K-P, goes on to form a coalition government. Earlier on Mar 31, Badam Zari from Bajaur Agency submitted her papers to contest NA-43.
June 3: PTI MPA Farid Khan shot dead in Hangu. Two more MPAs were killed over the year. MPA Imran Mohmand on June 18 in Mardan and MPA Israrullah Gandapur on Oct 16 in DI Khan
June 23: Militants dressed as Gilgit Scouts attack Nanga Parbat base camp, kill 10 foreign trekkers, and a local guide
July 26: Multiple blasts in Parachinar kill at least 50. A few months later on Sept 22, twin blasts at All Saints Church killed 83, injuring 150 people. Later on the 27th, 19 people lost their lives when a bomb exploded inside a Civil Secretariat bus. On Sept 29, 42 more died when a car bomb tore through Qissa Khwani Bazaar. 18 of the deceased were from the same family
July 29/30: TTP militants storm DI Khan Central Jail and free over 248 inmates, including 48 high-profile militants
Sept 14: Militants release eight people working on the Gomal Zam Dam project, who were kidnapped a year earlier
Oct 1: IDPs begin their journey back to Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency
Nov 1: Drone strike in Dandey Darpakhel, NWA kills Hakimullah Mehsud and four others. On Nov 21, the first confirmed drone strike hit K-P at Hangu. Six died, including two Haqqani network leaders. Earlier in May 2013, the PHC declared drone strikes inside Pakistan ‘a war crime’
Nov 8: Sunni and Shia clerics jointly lead the evening prayer in Gilgit
Nov 23: PTI begins the NATO supply blockade with a rally on Ring Road
By Dec 31, at least 82 polio cases were confirmed across Pakistan – 10 in K-P, 59 in FATA. The total count in 2012 was 58.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.
‘’Since the beginning of 2013 we hoped that we would not be questioned by authorities, but check posts increased and there seems to be no respite"
- Ajmal Khan Gandigar, a resident of Upper Dir
‘’I have not drunk a glass of clean water in the entire year. I just want the government to provide me one clean glass of water in 2014 "
- Ayub Bhittani, resident of Jathathar, Tank
‘’I want to see the Kalashinkov culture change. The only solution is to educate – establish institutes which provide free education to the poor"
- Imran Zaman, an engineer from Peshawar
‘’It was a great year for tourism in Swat. Hundreds visited the valley during the peak season. I hope this will increase next year"
- Fazal Ghani, hotel owner from Miandam, Swat
‘’In 2014, I wish to see the govt promoting arts. A music library should be set up to archive our music for all generations"
- Sitara Younus, Pashto singer from Peshawar
‘’I am 65 years old. So many years have gone by, the remaining too shall pass"
- Ikhtiar Ali, 65, a tribal elder from Kurram Agency
‘’The year went by too quickly; we Pukhtuns could not even bury our dead with all rituals. All we hope for is some peace to mourn our loved ones"
- Atiqullah, 76, a farmer from DI Khan who lost his son to sectarian violence
‘’It is very hard to earn a living as a rickshaw driver. My family and I wish to go back to our village, where we want peace to be restored"
- Attaullah, a resident of South Waziristan
‘’2013 was the year of curfews, which was not good for business. We just want to be able to restore peace in our area in 2014"
- Liaqat Wazir, a businessman from North Waziristan
Timeline
Jan 8: K-P Assembly passes The Elimination of Custom of Ghag Act 2013 By Dec 7, K-P became the first province to enact an updated Right To Information law.
May 11: PTI wins in K-P, goes on to form a coalition government. Earlier on Mar 31, Badam Zari from Bajaur Agency submitted her papers to contest NA-43.
June 3: PTI MPA Farid Khan shot dead in Hangu. Two more MPAs were killed over the year. MPA Imran Mohmand on June 18 in Mardan and MPA Israrullah Gandapur on Oct 16 in DI Khan
June 23: Militants dressed as Gilgit Scouts attack Nanga Parbat base camp, kill 10 foreign trekkers, and a local guide
July 26: Multiple blasts in Parachinar kill at least 50. A few months later on Sept 22, twin blasts at All Saints Church killed 83, injuring 150 people. Later on the 27th, 19 people lost their lives when a bomb exploded inside a Civil Secretariat bus. On Sept 29, 42 more died when a car bomb tore through Qissa Khwani Bazaar. 18 of the deceased were from the same family
July 29/30: TTP militants storm DI Khan Central Jail and free over 248 inmates, including 48 high-profile militants
Sept 14: Militants release eight people working on the Gomal Zam Dam project, who were kidnapped a year earlier
Oct 1: IDPs begin their journey back to Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency
Nov 1: Drone strike in Dandey Darpakhel, NWA kills Hakimullah Mehsud and four others. On Nov 21, the first confirmed drone strike hit K-P at Hangu. Six died, including two Haqqani network leaders. Earlier in May 2013, the PHC declared drone strikes inside Pakistan ‘a war crime’
Nov 8: Sunni and Shia clerics jointly lead the evening prayer in Gilgit
Nov 23: PTI begins the NATO supply blockade with a rally on Ring Road
By Dec 31, at least 82 polio cases were confirmed across Pakistan – 10 in K-P, 59 in FATA. The total count in 2012 was 58.
“O dawning New Year morning!
The scars of yesteryears,
Still blossom like carnations.
Heal, with your incandescence,
Fill my garden with your love.
So, colorful Pakhtunkhwa,
Can mirror its beauty,
Like a newly wedded bride,
O dawning New Year morning!
- Laiq Zada Laiq
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.