By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi
KHYBER: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi has vowed to protect the rights of tribal districts “to the very end,” declaring that no further military operations would be permitted. Speaking at a peace jirga in Badhra, Afridi stressed that decisions regarding the tribal areas would be made transparently, with full consultation of public representatives and local elders. He announced a series of step-by-step peace jirgas across all tribal districts, culminating in a grand jirga to develop a unified strategy for peace and development, warning that ignoring its resolutions could have serious consequences.
Afridi praised the tribal communities for their sacrifices, noting that residents of Khyber had defended Pakistan’s borders since independence. “Our people have safeguarded the nation at the cost of homes, villages, and lives, yet their loyalty has often been overlooked,” he said. Reflecting on post-9/11 military interventions that devastated local communities, he stressed that no new operations would be allowed. “Innocent lives cannot continue to be lost for dollars. Accountability will follow if any innocent person is harmed,” he added.
He also demanded that the federal government release Rs 55 billion owed to tribal districts and Rs 2.2 trillion from Net Hydro Power, asserting, “We do not want charity; we want our rights.” Participants raised the slogan, “Saada Haq Aithe Rakh” (Give us our rights here). Afridi confirmed that similar jirgas would be held across all tribal districts, culminating in a grand assembly to secure lasting peace and development.
