BARA: Vowing to safeguard the rights of tribal districts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday declared that no new military operation would be allowed in the region.
“All key decisions concerning the tribal areas would be made in consultation with public representatives and tribal elders rather than behind closed doors. We want our due share and not secondhand vehicles or alms from the Centre,” he told a Grand Khyber Jirga in his native Bara tehsil of Khyber district.
Afridi said a series of peace jirgas would be organised across the tribal districts, culminating in a grand Loya Jirga to discuss a joint strategy for lasting peace and development.
“The tribal people have rendered immense sacrifices for the security and integrity of Pakistan. It is now time to fulfill the promises made with them at the time of merger,” he stated.
Afridi reiterated that the provincial government would not permit any new military operation in the tribal belt. “In the name of operations, innocent tribesmen have been targeted. No one will be allowed to sacrifice the tribesmen. If an innocent person loses his life, there will be accountability,” he said.
The chief minister demanded the federal government to immediately release Rs550 billion in arrears owed to the tribal districts and Rs2,200 billion in net hydropower dues. “We do not seek charity. We are demanding our constitutional right,” he emphasised. The gathering echoed with slogans of “Saada haq ethe rakh” (Give us our due right).
Afridi, who was the chief guest at the jirga, was joined by MNA Iqbal Afridi, MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, former minister Pir Noorul Haq Qadri, Bara Siyasi Ittehad President Hashim Khan, JI’s Khan Wali, PMLN district President Asghar Khan, PPP’s Walat Khan, and several tribal elders, including Malik Waris and Khan Marjan Wazir. Thousands of people attended the event.
Afridi lauded the patriotism of tribal people, saying they had always protected Pakistan’s borders without any external aid. “The history of Khyber shows that no one ever ruled over it by force. Accepting Pakistan was our own decision. We were, we are, and we will remain Pakistanis,” he went on to add.
Referring to the post-9/11 era, Afridi lamented that “certain decision-makers imposed a foreign war on our soil,” which devastated the tribal society. “We sacrificed our homes and villages for Pakistan’s survival, but we are no longer ready to bear further losses.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to defending the people’s rights. “As long as I hold this office, I will continue to fight for the rights of our people. All decisions will be made with the consent of the people and their representatives,” he declared.
Earlier, a warm reception was accorded to the chief minister at Shalobar. A grand welcome gate was set up by the Shalobar Qaumi Council and rose petals were showered on him upon arrival.
