Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: Tribesmen are united to abolish the century old law; however they are not in favour of merging of the tribal belt into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) but will prefer to have a separate province where they can spend their lives as per their norms and traditions.

These views were expressed by former federal minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi while addressing the occasion of general convention of Khyber Union as chief guest at Bar-Kamber Khel area of Tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency on Sunday.

Khyber Union Central President Bazaar Gul Afridi, former Member Parliament from Dera Adam Khel Baz Gul Afridi, The Frontier Postpublisher Rehmat Shah Afridi, a large number of tribal elders and members of civil society were among the participants of the gathering.

The minister said that the tribals didn’t want to be ruled under the Frontier Crime Regulation but would never accept the merging of the Federally Administered Tribal Areaswith KP.

“Instead of being a part of KP, our rights will be more ensured in a separate province under the name of Qabailistan,” he added, saying the tribesmen would react to any scheme imposed on them against their wishes.

He maintained that the tribals were faced with numerous problems in terms of return of Temporary Displaced Persons, issuing of identity card and lack of all fundamental rights in the tribal belt but the tribal member parliament were wasting their energies in useless activities that was regretful.

Other speakers including former Member Parliament Haji Baz Gul Afridi, Bazar Gul Afridi and others highlighted different aspects of the Union and said that since long Khyber Union Pakistan proved an effective platform to raise voice for the right and welfare of the masses.

Earlier, Rehmat Shah Afridi administered oath to newly central and units’ cabinets of Khyber Unions.

Published in Daily Times, March 6^th 2018.