Kokikhel elders want FC to leave their land

PESHAWAR, April 16: Elders of Kokikhel tribe of Khyber Agency have demanded early possession of their land at Shahkas area allegedly occupied by the Frontier Corps and warned to start protest demonstrations if the issue is not resolved. Speaking at a press conference the other day, the elders, led by Barkatullah Khan Afridi, called upon the government to immediately implement the Lafi Graft Award Agreement of 1912 that was signed between the Peshawar district government and the Kokikhel tribe and return the land to its tribal owners. He said that signs of land demarcation in the shape of boundary wall constructed under the agreement still existed and the proofs of land ownership were also documented. He said that the then governor Naseerullah Babar had acknowledged the Lafi Graft Agreement and issued directives for renovation of the boundary pillars. He said that the governor had also directed the boar d of revenue, Peshawar, in April 1977 to maintain its record as per Lafi Graft Agreement, but the orders were ignored. Other tribal elders, including Mohammad Irfan, Abdul Saleem, Mohammad Ameen, Haji Fani Jan and Haji Dolat were also present on the occasion. Mr Barkat said that the landowners were so poor that they were unable to visit the courts and needed the government support. He said that Lafi Graft award was a panacea to all ills, as meja project like Regi Model Town project and other issues would be resolved after its implementation. He said that the demarcation records were available with the elders of Kokikhel tribe. He alleged that when the tribesmen adopted peaceful ways for solution of the issue, the government threatened them to launch an operation against them. The tribal elders demanded of Governor Masood Kausar to play his role for implementation of Lafi Graft Agreement.