KOHAT: A jirga on Sunday raised concern over skyrocketing property rates allegedly caused by investment of black money in the real estate business by the drug barons of former Fata in the absence of any official check.

The jirga held at the TMA Hall was attended by representatives of traders’ unions, political parties, civil society and the general public to discuss and find solution to the issues the people of Kohat were facing.

Jamaat-i-Islami emir Abid Khan, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leader Mansoor Paracha, grand business alliance secretary general Israr Shinwari, PML-N’s Ameer Afridi, president of Haj Umrah services Ibraheem Parcaha and others were in attendance.

The participants agreed to form a committee with representation from all the urban six and 26 rural union councils to take up the issues with the lawmakers.

Israr Shinwari alleged that with the black money earned from drug trade the tribesmen built commercial centres and houses and then put them on high rent. He said the rent of shops had surged to Rs60,000 and Rs130,000 per month from the pre-merger Rs15,000. “Poor people cannot hire even a small house for Rs25,000 per month,” he added.

Mr Shinwari said price of one marla land had risen to Rs800,000 since the wealthy tribesmen had started buying land in Jarma and other attractive locations. “The tribesmen make big money by growing hemp in their home towns and then invest the amounts in property business in Kohat.”

The participants alleged that non-locals were being appointed in the departments, demanding that the OGDCL and MOL should hire young educated people as they had the first right over the jobs.

The participants alleged that 80 per cent of the staff of Rescue 1122 was from outside.

ILLEGAL HUNTING: The hunting association of Kohat has demanded permission to hunt in the game reserves only allotted to the governor and the chief minister.

In a statement issued the other day, president Jamshed Bokhari and members Nauman Khan, Zubair Banoori, Zahoor Niazi Advocate and Askar Banoori alleged that the wildlife officials allowed hunting by influential people without permits. They said VVIPs from other parts of the country, including bureaucrats and politicians, were given permission to hunt which was illegal.

They said game quantity was depleting due to the illegal hunting, and asked the wildlife officer to strictly set a limit of hunting on permits.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2021