Federal govt appoints 48 members to KP council across 12 districts

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday issued a notification appointing 48 members to the Regional Representative and Development Council across 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following consultations with local jirgas.

The appointments cover districts in the province’s tribal belt and adjoining areas, with members nominated through consultations intended to select representatives acceptable to local communities, according to details released by the government.

Shaukatullah Khan, who belongs to the Tarkani tribe in Bajaur district, has been appointed chairperson of the council, while Malik Khan Marjan of the Wazir tribe in North Waziristan has been named vice-chairperson.

The appointments come days after the federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, transferring executive powers of the provincial government to the governor and establishing an 11-member advisory council to oversee provincial affairs.

Jirgas consulted on appointments

According to the government’s announcement, jirgas were held in all 12 districts with the assistance of deputy commissioners to nominate council members considered respected and acceptable to local populations.

The Additional Chief Secretary and administrator of the Area Development Secretariat processed the nominations following the jirgas’ consultations. The names were then forwarded to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, who sent the list to the provincial governor after further processing.

The governor subsequently forwarded the nominations to the federal government, which issued the formal notification confirming the appointments.

The council includes representatives from Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, Lower South Waziristan, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat.

District-wise representation

Bajaur has four representatives: Shaukatullah Khan, Shahabuddin Khan, Malik Sultan Zeb and Haji Lali Shah, all belonging to the Tarkani tribe, according to the announcement.

Mohmand has three members: Malik Fayyaz Khan of the Khadi Khel Khwazai tribe, Malik Nadir Manan of the Bazai tribe and Malik Sahib Khan Ambar of the Utmankhel tribe.

Khyber has five representatives — Malik Abdul Razzaq, Malik Izzatullah, Malik Salahuddin, Malik Zahir Shah and Shireen Khan — who belong to the Afridi tribe.

Kurram also has five members: Munir Hussain Bangash of the Bangash tribe, Malik Abdul Wali Khan of the Ali Sherzai tribe, and Malik Zameen Hussain, Syed Wali Syed Mian and Ehsanullah Ehsan of the Turi tribe.

Orakzai has three representatives: Lal Man Shah of the Ali Khel tribe, Syed Fakhr Abbas of the Syed community and Faizullah of the Mushti tribe.

North Waziristan’s five members are Malik Khan Marjan, Malik Nasrullah and Malik Haji Sher Muhammad of the Wazir tribe, along with Mufti Misbahullah Khan of the Dawar tribe and Malik Habib Khan of the Dawar/Darpa Khel tribe.

Upper South Waziristan has four representatives: Saleh Shah of the Qureshi Mahsud tribe, Malik Irfanuddin Ahmed Barki of the Burki tribe, and Malik Muhammad Roman Mahsud and Malik Ramtal Khan of the Mah