peshawar
Dozens of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kurram Agency on Friday staged a protest demonstration here at main Saddar Road, demanding the Election Commission to postpone elections in NA-38 Kurram Agency till the return of all displaced families to their hometown.
The demonstrators led by Malik Zaman Chamkani, Ghafar Khan, and Aurangzeb Khan along with scores of other militancy-stricken tribesmen from the Agency were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans. They demanded postponement of elections in their respective constituency NA-38 Kurram Agency. They also raised slogans in favour of their demands.
On the occasion, talking to media persons, Malik Zaman said that a large number of people become homeless and forced them to leave their hometowns and take refuge in makeshift camps due to the military operation in the agency.
He alleged that more than 44 polling stations out of total 112 in Kurram Agency were established in the areas controlled by militants.
Zeman said it would be quite difficult to hold free and fair elections in the present circumstances, therefore, the Election Commission of Pakistan should take notice of the issue and postpone today’s elections in NA-38 Kurram Agency till the return of displaced people to their hometown.
The demonstrators warned to reject election results if the ECP did not consider their genuine demand.
The militancy-affected people also demanded IDPs status to the militancy affected displaced people of Kurram Agency and urged that the authorities concerned should provide adequate facilities to them at their makeshift camps.
