PESHAWAR – Activists of FATA Students Federation (FSF) hailing from different tribal agencies and FATA Lawyers on Saturday rallied and held a protest demonstration here at Sher Shah Suri Road outside the Peshawar Press Club against the military operation in the tribal belt demanding initiation of rebuilding process there.
The protesting tribals demanded end to the US drone strikes, prolonged military operations in tribal belt, restoration of normalcy, reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the area, and a special package for the internally displaced tribal families from FATA. The students’ rally was led by FSF, President Haroon Luqman that was started from Hashtnagri and culminated at the Press Club. The demonstrators later joined the lawyers’ community of Fata Lawyers Forum (FLF), led by its president Ijaz Mohmand, General Secretary Taj Mehal Afridi and Samiullah Afridi.
The demonstrators were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands and against the incumbent rulers for failing to establish peace in the region. They also raised slogans against the US drone strikes, and security forces military operation in different parts of FATA.
While addressing the demonstrators, the FLF and FSF leaders welcomed the appointment of Eng Shaukatullah as new Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hailing from tribal areas, and condemned the filing of a writ petition against the incumbent Governor in a local court.
They also informed the Fata Lawyers have challenged the petition, adding it is tantamount to keeping the tribal people away from mainstream politic in name of the 18th Constitutional amendments.
FLF President Ijaz Mohmand said that a conspiracy is being hatched to keep the tribal people backward through such tactics to deprive the tribal people of their genuine leaders. Condemning the killing of innocent tribals in the so-called war on terrorism on their own soil, he urged to end this war and establish peace by ending military action in Fata.
FSF President Haroon Luqman while speaking on the occasion asked the government to restore sustainable peace, ensure establishment of an international standard university in Fata, and waive off the tuition fee to tribal students studying in different education institutions in settled regions. He also demanded of the government to shun anti-masses policies and ensure provision of basic facilities to tribal people aimed to bring them in to the mainstream politics of the country.