KHYBER: Fata Qaumi Jirga (FQJ), a group of anti-merger tribal elders, announced on Thursday boycott of the Feb 8 general elections.

In a gathering held in Bara, the FQJ members with Haji Bismillah Khan, Malak Mohammad Hussain, Malak Fazlur Rehman, Malak Daud Shah, Malak Khan Marjan, Malak Jalal Khan Wazir, Malak Naib Shah and others also called upon all the tribesmen of seven tribal regions of erstwhile Fata to stay away from the election process.

On the occasion, Malak Saeed Khan, an active member of FQJ, announced his withdrawal from contesting elections from Darra Adamkhel from where he had submitted his nomination papers for the National Assembly seat.

The participants also asked of one of their colleagues, Bazar Gul, to also withdraw from contesting the provincial assembly seat from Bara.

Through a resolution, the FQJ demanded of the Supreme Court to form a larger bench for hearing of a writ petition they had filed against the 25th constitutional amendment.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024