CHITRAL: The atmosphere of Chitral was very sad after the unfortunate incident that took place in Chitral in recent days in which four security forces personnel were martyred and seven were injured. People are living a life of great sorrow and fear they are under great tension. Chitral was an ideal peaceful district where thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit every year and most of the tourists visit the Kalash valley. But Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan attacked a post of Chitral Scouts near Bomburat valley Kailash and another post of Chitral Scouts in Janjerit Koh, killing four personnel. After this, the atmosphere of the entire Chitral is very mournful and people are worried.
A Grand peace Jirga was organized on the call of Jamat Islami to restore the ideal peace of. Leaders of all political and religious parties and people of both Sunni and Ismaili communities participated in the Grand peace Jirga in large numbers. Addressing the Grand Jirga, the elders of the area said that the people of Chitral have always been loyal to Pakistan and the army. But every Chitrali is very worried about the unpleasant incident that happened in recent days. They said that there are so many agencies working in Chitral and they had been informed earlier, but despite that, No measures were taken in the true sense to prevent it, which is sorrowful.
The speakers said that the work of border police i.e. Chitral Levies is to protect these borders but the entire procession of these Levies is present in the office of Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner and most of the Levies are in the bungalows of DC, AC and other officers. It is completely unfair and illegal to be engaged them in personal work. They are not paid from the public exchequer to personally serve the DC’s children or his household but their job is to protect the borders. They said that the VIP protocol of the officers in Chitral should also be stopped. Presidents and Prime Ministers of some European countries go to their offices on bicycles or without any protocol, but here a whole procession of protocols goes before the vehicle of even an ordinary civil servant, which creates frustration and hatred in the people.
The speakers said that Kailash people having the world’s only and unique culture are living in Chitral. Tourists from all over the world come here to see their unique culture. It have also created an atmosphere of fear. If the situation remains like this, no local or foreign tourists will be come there and these people depend on the income from tourism. If that happens, the people of Kailash will be forced to starve.
On this occasion, a unanimous resolution was also passed, according to which the government was requested that the Chief of Army Staff, General Munir, who has lost four of our soldiers in the recent terrorist attack, should immediately visit Chitral to meet with elders here. Through the resolution they demanded that the people of the border area of Chitral should be given their basic rights and facilities to end their sense of deprivation. So that they remain loyal to their homeland as always. The resolution expressed great concern that such incidents occurred in Chitral in the presence of so many law enforcement agencies, security forces and intelligence agencies working in Chitral. They also demanded that Officials of these agencies should avoid interfering in other matters other than their duties. The resolution demanded that the Chitral Border Police should be sent to the borders instead of bureaucratic protocol to protect them. It was also demanded that unnecessary protocol should be avoided during the movement of officers within Chitral as it spreads hatred and frustration among the people. The administration’s lack of communication with the people and keeping them in the dark during the unfortunate incidents is condemnable. This creates a gape between the people and the government. Grand Jirga will also be organized in Drosh, Garm Chashma, Upper Chitral and other areas for restoration of peace. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life participated in this Gand peace Jirga, which was concluded with the prayer words of former Amir Jamaat-e-Islami, Maulan Sher Aziz.
BY : Gul Hamad Farooqui.
