PESHAWAR: The provincial caretaker minister for relief and rehabilitation, Taj Mohammad, has emphasized that the Kukikhel tribe is the rightful owner of a portion of the Regi Lalma Model Township in Peshawar.
He stated that they will not yield to any pressure to surrender the land to the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) under any circumstances.
Minister Taj Mohammad, who himself belongs to the Kukikhel tribe of Jamrud, visited the protest camp set up by his tribesmen on Tuesday.
The protest demanded a reduction in electricity load shedding, the return of displaced Kukikhel families to their areas, and the revival of the Messi Griffith boundary award signed between the Khyber and Peshawar districts in 1912.
During the visit, Minister Taj Mohammad criticized the previous governments for failing to address the land dispute.
He firmly stated that his tribe is the lawful owner of the land, which was allegedly taken by the PDA without their consent for inclusion in the township.
Furthermore, he declared, “Regi Lalma land is our property, and no one has the authority to forcibly take it away from us,” receiving applause from the protesting tribesmen.
The minister assured the protesters that he would raise the issue of the remaining Kukikhel families with the relevant authorities.
The Kukikhel protest sit-in at the historic Bab-i-Khyber has entered its eighth day, with protesters braving hot and humid weather.
Source: DAWN
