Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: A massive protest erupted on Sunday in Jamrud tehisl of district Khyber, as the Fata Loya Jirga marked March 9 as “Justice Day”, condemning the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s inaction on the case against the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protest, which began at Takhta Baig and culminated at Bab-e-Khyber, saw thousands of tribal elders, activists and residents take to the streets, demanding justice and the restoration of ex-FATA’s special status.
The demonstrators, carrying black flags, banners, and placards, chanted slogans rejecting the merger and criticizing the government for failing to address their grievances. The protesters blocked the Pak-Afghan Highway, causing a complete halt in traffic as they called for immediate action from the Supreme Court, which had promised to form a larger bench for the case three years ago but has yet to fulfill its commitment.
During the rally, Fata Loya Jirga President Haji Bismillah Khan Afridi, along with other tribal leaders, including Malik Khan Marjan Wazir, Malik Mohammad Hussain, General Secretary Azam Khan Mehsud, Malik Shakil Orakzai, Malik Ziarat Gul Mohmand and Nawabzada Fazal Karim, addressed the crowd.
They strongly rejected the merger, labeling it forced, unconstitutional and illegal. They argued that instead of bringing development, the merger had worsened conditions in the tribal districts, leading to increased lawlessness, rising crime, land disputes, unemployment, and the loss of educational quotas for tribal youth.
The protestors demanded that the Supreme Court immediately hear the case and restore FATA’s special constitutional status. They called for the removal of the police and Patwari system, which they claim is alien to tribal traditions. They insisted that their centuries-old customary laws and dispute resolution mechanisms be reinstated.
Frustration among tribal leaders was evident as they expressed disappointment over the judiciary’s inaction. The FATA Loya Jirga has been fighting the case for six years, but in the last three years, there has been no progress despite assurances from the Supreme Court. They urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to honor his commitment and provide justice to the tribal people, warning that continued negligence would lead to intensified protests.
The demonstration also condemned the recent arrests of Malik Naseer Ahmad Kokikhel and Najib-ur-Rehman Majboor Orakzai, calling their detention unjustified and politically motivated. Protesters demanded their immediate release and warned that further arrests of tribal leaders would escalate tensions in the region.
As the protest came to a close, the FATA Loya Jirga reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the movement until justice is served. The tribal elders made it clear that they would not back down until their rights, special status, and cultural identity were fully restored.
