Return of Sipah tribe, bazaar reopening celebrated

BARA: Various tribes of Bara observed Monday as “Izhar-e-Tashakkur” or Thanksgiving Day over the return of Sipah tribespeople, restoration of peace and reopening of the Bara Bazaar.

Various political parties’ leaders, including Awami National Party provincial vice-president Imran Afridi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Javed Afridi, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Shah Faisal and others attended a ceremony arranged at Khyber Killay that falls in the jurisdiction of Peshawar district.

Local elders, including Malik Waris Khan Afridi, Malik Faizullah Jan Kukikhel, Malik Daud Khan and others were also present on the occasion.

Member National Assembly (MNA) Nasir Khan Afridi and his brother Senator Momin Khan Afridi were chief guests of the programme.

People from various walks of life, including social workers, elders, traders and political leaders attended the event at the village located near Ring Road in Khyber Killay.

The event was organised by JI Khyber Agency leaders Shah Faisal Afridi, Ikhtiyar Badshah and Sultan Akbar Afridi.

“We have overcome militancy and terrorism due to sacrifices rendered by tribesmen, Khassadar force and security forces. We are now entering into a new phase of peace. Our focus is on the development of the tribal region,” the MNA said.

Nasir Khan Afridi said that he had requested the federal government and Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan to allocate more funds for developmental projects, particularly for Bara Bazaar and other areas.

“All infrastructures, including schools, hospitals, roads, electricity and drinking water system, was destroyed over the past 10 years due to the militancy in Khyber Agency,” he pointed out.

He said when he was elected as Member National Assembly from Khyber Agency, he met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and apprised him of situation in Bara.

He said all Afridi tribes depended on the business activities of the Sipah tribe.

“We thank Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan for his recent visit to the Khyber Agency for reopening Bara Bazaar, announcing Sipah tribe’s return and special packages for development,” the MNA said.