The Bajaur Youth Movement (BYM) has launched the Bajaur Human Rights Protection Cell (BHRPC) to expedite the struggle for the rights of the community living in Peshawar. The decision to this effect was taken at a fortnightly meeting of the office-bearers of the BYM, held here at the central office.
The participants of the gathering noted with a degree of concern that the people of tribal agency of Bajaur living in the provincial metropolis had no one to help them to protect their rights, especially the legal ones. Discussing some cases threadbare, they came to the conclusion that a representative body under the aegis of the BYM in the form of BHRPC would go towards solving the problem.
Noor Jan Khwazkhel was unanimously appointed the chairman of the cell while Mian Tariq Shah Bajauray, a councillor from Mahal Terai II Union Council, was made the vice-chairman. Other members of the board are Haji Samiullah Turabi, General Secretary for the Child Education Welfare Society, Jama Dad Khan, councillor, Yakatoot III Union Council, and Nazeerur Rehman Bajauray, another councillor from Khalisa II Union Council.
The newly appointed chairman resolved to leave no stone unturned to make efforts for the protecting the rights of the people of Bajaur. He said that awareness was a must before launching concerted endeavours for the rights. He announced that the more people would be taken in the cell to broaden the scope of work. It may be mentioned here that Bajaur Agency is one of the seven tribal agencies under the control of the federal government.
According to the last (5th) population census conducted in 1998, the total population of the agency is 5, 95,227 (Men 3, 05, 137, Women 2, 90,090). The federal government runs the affairs of the tribal agency through a political agent who works under the provincial governor. The agent administers the area under a special set of laws called Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR), introduced by the British Colonials way back in 1871 and re-enacted with additions in 1901.
The FCR that comprises of six chapters, 64 sections and three schedules has always come under criticism for impeding the social, political and economic development of the tribal people. The harsh regulation makes it impossible for the change agents to work in the tribal areas. In such a situation, some organisations work for the tribal community while remaining in the settled areas. The BYM is one of them.
Launched in 1991 by the youths from the highly under-developed Bajaur Agency, the BYM seeks to protect the rights of the tribal people living in the agency and Peshawar. The body comprises of 14 office-bearers and executive committee members. A social worker from the agency, presently based in Peshawar, Haji Samiullah Turabi, heads the organisation.
The so-called war on terror brought the Bajaur Agency into a limelight last year when 82 people, including teenagers were killed in an air strike at a seminary at Damadola village of the agency on October 30, 2006. The authorities had said the seminary was being used as a training facility for the militant activities, an assertion that was denied by the local residents. The tribal agency was spotlighted again on January 13, 2007 when a missile strike on a village left 18 people dead, including women and children.