Ex-lawmaker from Bajaur declines to be part of KP ARDC
BAJAUR/KHYBER/BANNU: Shahabuddin Khan, former lawmaker and a notable political and influential figure of Bajaur district, has refused to be part of the proposed 48-member Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) for 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where an emergency has been declared. Mr Khan, who is also senior vice-president of the ruling PML-N’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, made…
Shahabuddin Khan, a former lawmaker and influential figure from Bajaur district, has declined to join the proposed 48-member Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) for 12 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The announcement was made after the list of ARDC members was published on media outlets and social media. Khan, who is also the senior vice-president of the PML-N's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, expressed gratitude for being suggested for the council but stated that he does not wish to be a member. The reason for his refusal was not specified.
Meanwhile, a tribal council alliance, Ittehad-i-Malkanan Bajaur, rejected the ARDC, claiming they were not consulted in its formation. They accused the council of including political affiliations instead of genuine tribal elders. Another elder, Muhammadi Shah, claimed that the Utmankhel tribe was not represented in the council. Lack of clarity existed regarding the role and responsibilities of the ARDC, and many members expressed ignorance about their functions.
In Khyber district, five council members also had no knowledge about the selection criteria for council members. Some local elders declined the offer, stating they did not want to become a rubber stamp. The composition of the council in designated districts, particularly merged districts, raised concerns among members, with many opposing the merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Other organizations, such as the Khyber Students Association and a Kukikhel jirga, also expressed reservations about the selection of council members. The Khyber Students Association questioned the denial of representation to young leaders in the council. At least two council members from Jamrud and Landi Kotal had not yet received instructions about their role and responsibilities.
However, a council elder claimed that tribal elders would soon be assigned important responsibilities, with the tribal elders expected to recommend new development schemes and ensure the completion of ongoing schemes.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
