Elders protest against relocation of headquarters of Orakzai

KALAYA: The tribal elders from Upper and Central Orakzai staged a protest against the relocation of the district headquarters to Kalaya.

The demonstrators organised a rally and announced a boycott of all government administrative affairs, including the polio vaccination campaign, until their demands are met by March 17.

Addressing the protesters, Upper Orakzai Tehsil Chairman Mufti Muhammad Tahir, along with tribal elders Malik Lal Min Shah, Malik Khan Gul, Malik Haji Shakeel, Malik Haji Qasim Gul, Malik Issamuddin Shaheed Khan, and Malik Mumtaz, strongly opposed the relocation of the district headquarters to Lower Orakzai. They emphasized that Upper Orakzai has been severely affected by past military operations and remains underdeveloped.

The tribal leaders reminded the provincial government of its promise to keep the headquarters in Hangu until an alternative location is designated. They insisted that any decision regarding the headquarters should be made through negotiations and consensus.

They further argued that while Lower Orakzai has been granted all major government offices, Upper Orakzai has been deprived of its fair share of administrative facilities. The protesters demanded that the district headquarters remain in a location accessible to all residents of Upper, Lower, and Central Orakzai.

The demonstrators warned against any forced implementation of the relocation, urging elected representatives to play their role in resolving the dispute peacefully. They also criticized census discrepancies, claiming that the population of Upper and Central Orakzai is larger, yet government offices are being centralized in one area, which they termed as unjust.

The protesters also demanded the immediate release of social worker Najeeb-ur-Rehman, who was reportedly arrested by authorities.The Orakzai tribes vowed to continue their movement until their demands are met, warning of further protests if their concerns are ignored.