By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: Tribal elders from Khyber, Orakzai, Mohmand and surrounding districts on Wednesday pledged unity under the banner of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Qaumi Jirga to eliminate social evils, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, land grabbing, kidnapping for ransom, gambling and adultery.
The joining session was held at Nekabad village in the hujra of Haji Shahinshah Afridi, where community elders warmly welcomed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Qaumi Jirga chairman Khalid Ayub.
Addressing the jirga, chairman Khalid Ayub said the country’s systems had been flawed for decades and called on government departments to work within their mandates. He said those officials who violate the Constitution should be declared traitors.
Criticizing the Anti-Narcotics Force(ANF) for its failure to curb the drug trade, Khalid Ayub also accused WAPDA of overbilling and exploiting citizens. He said the Qaumi Jirga aimed to unite Pashtuns for moral and social reform, pledging continued cooperation with law enforcement agencies to uphold peace and justice.
Patron-in-chief of Qaumi Jirga, Shahinshah Afridi, said that locals were peaceful and patriotic Pakistanis who wanted to rid their society of corruption and crimes. He urged the Qaumi Jirga to intensify its efforts against all social evils.
Vice Chairman Gul Amin said the jirga represented various tribal clans and vowed to support the government against those challenging its writ or involved in illegal activities. He called upon elders to join the movement to ensure development and peace in their areas.
Former town member Asad Khan Shinwari urged the government to take stern action against land mafias, saying his family’s property worth billions of rupees had been illegally occupied despite repeated complaints filed at the CCPO and Inspector General(IG) offices.
PPP leader Fakhr-e-Alam thanked CCPO Dr. Mian Muhammad Saeed for taking taken against corrupt police officials, including the suspension of a former SHO and announced Haji Shahinshah Afridi as Patron-in-Chief of the Qaumi Jirga.
A large number of elders from the Shinwari, Afridi, Orakzai, Khalil and Mohmand tribes attended the jirga.
