SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Despite living in the region for over 100 years, the minority Christian community in South Waziristan Lower district has been facing numerous challenges, including lack of recognition and better housing facilities.

According to a local community leader Pastor Zeeshan, the major issued being faced by the community include lack of a residential colony and non-recognition as a tribe.

Talking to Dawn, Pastor Zeeshan said the Christian community had been residing in Wana, South Waziristan Lower, for over 100 years, with a population of around 600. Despite their long presence in the region, he said, they were not considered a tribe, like Wazir, Suleman Khel and Dottani tribes.

As per Wazir, Suleman Khel and Dottani tribal customs, the Christian community is not considered a tribe since they do not equally share profits and losses in accordance with local traditions.

DC says efforts will be made to fulfil demands of the community

Consequently, the Christian community is demanding local tribal recognition.

Additionally, they are seeking the establishment of a residential colony in Wana, like the one constructed by the district administration in Miran Shah in North Waziristan.

Highlighting the difficulties due to the lack of a residential colony, Pastor Zeeshan appealed to the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the district administration to buy land for their residence and construct residential quarters to solve their basic housing problem.

Provincial Senior Vice-President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Minority Wing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akash Masih said the Christian community was not allowed to operate their vehicles from taxi stands at Wana bazaar because they were not considered a local tribe.

“This has resulted in severe difficulties for the community,” he said.

Akash Masih further alleged that the district administration did not allocate any share to the Christian community in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) every year, leaving their needs unfulfilled.

Highlighting another issue, a local resident Mushtaq Masih said around 200 Christian boys and girls were studying in FC School and College, Wana, but most of them did not receive scholarships in other government schools and colleges, making it challenging for them to pursue their education. He, however, said in the past 100 years, no incident had occurred that had troubled the Christian community.

Interviews with a number of local Christians revealed that their major demands were their recognition as a tribe, a residential colony, allocation in the Annual Development Programme, scholarships for their children and permission to operate vehicles from taxi stands.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner South Waziristan Lower Nasir Khan acknowledged the problems faced by the Christian community and assured that efforts would be made to address their legitimate demands.

Mr Khan said the district administration had resolved issues related to domicile and identity cards for the Christian community, declaring that he would send a proper letter to the provincial government for their residential colony.

Anwar Khan, in-charge of South Waziristan Lower Social Welfare Department, assured that his department would make every effort to address the problems faced by the Christian community.-

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024