A grand jirga, held at Dassu, the district headquarters of Kohistan, was largely attended by elders of all clans and tribes along with officers of the district administration. The jirga, convened to evolve a strategy, demanded the two governments to settle issues as people wanted their rights at all cost.
The elders took a strong notice of the checkpost established by the GB government and warned the federal and GB governments to remove it before December 18 or else they would storm it. “The GB government has set up a checkpost in an area which, according to a notification issued by survey of Pakistan in 1955, is the ownership of KP,” said Member Provincial Assembly Abdul Sattar Khan.
The jirga was told by local elders and lawmakers that 8km disputed boundary area between KP and GB was already part of Kohistan and people had received land compensation from Wapda.
The participants also decided to move donors who are financing various projects if the government failed to settle their problems.
The jirga asked the government to honour the agreement reached between the locals and Wapda for the Dassu Dam, or else they would forcibly stop work on the project.
Speaking on the occasion, Kohistan Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shah said that the issue had been taken up at an appropriate forum and people should wait until a decision was made.
“Yes, the GB government has established a post on Kohistan side and administration of Chelas had assured to settle the issue,” he added.
He said a meeting between the Kohistan and Chelas administrations had already taken place over the issue and positive outcome was expected.
The official said he was in contact with Wapda over honouring its commitments with the locals. “You should keep in mind that these projects are highly important for the development and prosperity of the country and if work is suspended over these projects, it would cause irreparable loss to national exchequer,” said Muhammad Shah.
SC:The News
