The tribal elders of Khyber and workers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) at Bacha Khan Chawk, Landi Kotal Bazaar on Sunday staged a protest rally against merging of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Scores of tribal elites, JUI-F workers and general masses were among the participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik Faizullah Jan, Malik Razzaq Afridi, Mirajuddin, Fata Sectary General of JUI-F Mufti Muhammad Ijaz and others said that decision of merging was taken without the consent of the tribesmen and choice of handful unrepresented people was imposed on majority of tribal who were not in favor of merging.
They were of the view that instead of yielding benefits, the replaced system has deprived them of the amenities they enjoyed previously including potable water, health and education beside 28000 Khasadar troops, who were left jobless. "Tribesmen are stick to their norms and values if they are hit, the tribal people would react," they warned. The speakers urged the tribemen to take revenge of those who have imposed alien system on them in upcoming election by giving vote to pro-tribal candidates.