Tribal elders complain to governor about post-merger neglect

LANDIKOTAL: A delegation of tribal elders met Governor Faisal Karim Khan Kundi on Sunday at the Governor House in Peshawar and expressed concerns over the lack of development in tribal areas after the merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the deteriorating security situation.

The delegation, led by Malik Shah Mahmood and Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi, expressed deep concerns over the deteriorating security situation and the lack of development in tribal areas after the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The tribal leaders said that the merger had brought more hardships for the tribal population instead of progress. They said increasing public frustration and worsening law and order conditions were pushing the region back into underdevelopment.

The elders criticized the government after accusing it of failing to honour the promises made during the merger process and of imposing decisions without consulting local communities.Malik Busmillah and Malik Abdur Razaq told The News that the delegation demanded the revival of the traditional jirga system to ensure access to justice under tribal customs.

Malik Busmillah Khan Afridi said they appreciated the reforms made to the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) during President Asif Ali Zardari’s last tenure and praised the Pakistan People’s Party for consistently supporting tribal rights.

They said the governor assured the delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to relevant authorities and promised efforts for peace and development in the tribal districts.The governor acknowledged that while the state had pledged Rs100 billion for development and additional funds were promised under the Sartaj Aziz Commission, the full amount was never delivered.

He said the limited funds that were released were allegedly spent in select areas by the chief minister, sidelining the broader tribal population and fueling resentment among tribal youth against the merger.

The governor proposed forming a joint tribal jirga to draft a memorandum, based on which a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could be arranged.The delegation appreciated Governor Kundi’s leadership and commitment to addressing tribal issues.