Orakzai elders want Mamozai tribesmen to return home

HANGU: The elders on Tuesday urged the government to allow the Mamozai tribe to return to native areas in Orakzai Agency.

The demand was made during a jirga of elders of Mamozai tribe held here. Tribal elders including Abid Khan, Bilal Khan, Akhunzada Amin and others attended the jirga. The participants said the Mamozai tribespeople had been displaced from native areas and were forced to live as internally displaced persons for 10 years.

They said the people of 17 out of 18 tribes had been allowed to return to native areas but that of Mamozai tribe were not send back. The elders said the political administration also suspended the perks and privileges of Mamozai tribe.

They said the displaced families were facing a host of problems and asked the government to announce schedule for the return of Mamozai tribespeople. The elders also demanded restoration of the perks and privileges of their clan.   They threatened to launch a protest campaign if their demands were not accepted.