Elders want reservations addressed before mines lease extension

GHALLANAI: The tribal elders here on Friday asked the political administration to take them into confidence about the process of extending the lease of the marble mines in Mohmand Agency.

The elders, including Malik Alam Khan, Qari Ziaullah and others, belonging to Safi tehsil said that the Adamzai Masaud tribe had leased out marble mines to six contractors for 12 years. They said that they extended the lease for another four years under pressure from the political administration.

The elders said that the contract expired in 2016 but the contractors continued mining activities in the area. They alleged the contractors used influence to get the lease extended. The elders from Tarki Tangi area including Khair Muhammad Khan, Rasul Shah and others, said the tribespeople were not being consulted in the process for extension the lease.

Khan Muhammad, Sazwan Khan and others from Anbar tehsil said that some influential people were mining in the area. They said that they had time and again brought the matter into the notice of concerned officials but to no avail.

The elders said they would not allow mining in the area if the administration didn't address their reservations. When contacted, Political Tehsildar Mairaj Khan said the political administration was trying to solve the issue. He said the administration would consult the local elders on this issue.