Illogical boundaries Kohistanis protest ‘flawed’ division of district

MANSEHRA:

Terming the proposed division of Kohistan district into two as ‘flawed’, the former elected representatives of Palas tehsil have threatened to block the Karakoram Highway if their demands are not met.

Led by former Kohistan District Nazim Qari Obaidur Rehman, former union nazims of 13 councils of Palas, while speaking at a news conference, termed the proposed division of Kohistan into Eastern and Western Kohistan unnatural delimitation. They said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is implementing the decision of sitting provincial assembly members from Pattan. According to the new plan, the two tehsils of Palas and Pattan will be declared as the district of Western Kohistan. He said the people of Palas are not opposed to the creation of a new district, but are against the illogical division. “If dividing Kohistan in two districts is imperative, the Indus River should be made the boundary,” said Rehman, adding they were unwilling to accept Pattan as the district headquarters.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2014.