Agitation of political alliance against FC continues

Ahmad Nabi

LANDI KOTAL: Agitation of the Khyber Political Alliance against the unjustified attitude of Frontier Corp (FC) was continued as it organized a protest demo here at Bacha Khan Chowak Landi Kotal bazaar on Tuesday.

Hundreds of political workers and local tribesmen carrying placards inscribed with demands in their favor and were chanting full-throat slogans against bad behavior of FC. Addressing on the occasion speakers including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fzal (JUI-F) Fata General Sectary Mufti Ijaz, Jamaat-e-Islami(JI) Naib Ameer Fata Zarnoor Afridi, Fata President of Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party (PJ&DP) Dawlat Shah Afridi, Khyber Agency President of Pakistan People Party (PPP) Hazratwali Afridi, Awami National Party (ANP), Khyber Agency President Shah Hussain Shinwari, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf( PTI) leaders Abdur Raziq and Zerbullah Shinwari and others flayed FC for it rude behavior towards the dwellers of the area and said it adopted policies to instigate the tribesmen against the state. They accused that at numerous checkpoints established by the Khyber Rifle troops they were treated like aliens and were teasing them in the name of verification.

“Through a planning, the tribesmen are compelled to flee as firstly the National Logistic Cell(NLC) left the local jobless by erecting hurdles in business centers in Torkham and secondly setting up various unnecessary checkpoints inside the residential areas by the FC in the name of security”, they regretted. The Khyber Rifle used to violate principle of custom and tradition by entering in the local houses without permission in the name of search operation that created distance between the tribesmen and the forces, the argued.

They maintained that generally it was the duty of state to provide security to its people but here in Landi Kotal the Khyber Rifle soldiers followed adverse policy and asked the tribesmen for provision of security to them that was ridiculous. The protesters stated that for the last five months 17 tribesmen had been missing from the area but the authorities concerned had turned deaf ears towards it adding the area lacked all basic facilities but the administrative officials were involved in corruption.

They demanded of the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Corp Commander to address their grievances forthwith or they would initiate indefinite protest in front of the Governor House, Peshawar.