MIRAMSHAH: A jirga of Utmanzai tribe Friday expressed concern over misappropriation of funds meant for development works in North Waziristan and demanded the political administration and their Member National Assembly (MNA) Kamran Khan to inform the people about the ongoing uplift works in the region.
Presided by chieftain of Waziristan Malik Nasrullah Khan, the jirga members complained that there was little evidence on the ground of the development schemes for which billions of rupees according to officials and the media billions of funds had been allocated.
Malik Nasrullah Khan, Malik Qadir Khan, chief of Madakhel, Malik Mamoor Khan, chief of Torikhel and other tribal elders said the people of North Waziristan had been deprived of all basic amenities of life.
They said the government departments such as health, education, communications and public health, etc, were in a shambles and incapable to deliver. The elders said most of the roads in the tribal region were dilapidated while forests were being cut ruthlessly by the timber mafia.
The elders said the government had allocated Rs1.328 billion for development works in North Waziristan but except the Bannu-Ghulam Khan Highway, which is being constructed by the Pakistan Army, not a single project can be seen on the ground. “We would be happy and thankful to the political administration and MNA Kamran Khan if they can show us any development work going on in the tribal region,” a jirga speaker said.
The tribesmen demanded the president, governor and international donors to take note of their sufferings and misappropriation of funds meant for the people of underdeveloped North Waziristan.
Meanwhile, North Waziristan’s Political Agent Yahya Akhunzada on Thursday restored perks and privileges of Utmanzai tribal elders. He was talking to a jirga of the Utmanzai tribe at Governor’s Cottage.
Malik Nasrullah Khan, chieftain of Waziristan, led the jirga. Besides him, noted tribal elders including Malik Qadir Khan, Malik Mashal Khan, Malik Haji Mohammad Sher, Maulvi Nek Zaman, Hafiz Ihsan Wali, Hafiz Abdul Sattar, Malik Sher Khan Sarhadi and Malik Abdul Qadir were present on the occasion.
The political agent said the political administration had suspended all perks and privileges of the tribespeople in Mir Ali due to murder of APA Azmat Jamal Khattak.
Malik Qadir Khan said they were willing to play their role under the tribal customs and traditions but complained that wrong policies of the army and FC had created problems for the population of Fata.
The political agent, on appeal of the jirga members, withdrew all sanctions from the tribespeople in Mir Ali and restored their incentives.