First solo photo exhibition of female artist in Dera ends

First solo photo exhibition of female artist in Dera ends....http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/8429/

Farooq Mehusd
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A three-day photo exhibition aimed at promoting social values and inter-faith harmony among the beleaguered communities of D. I. Khan, concluded here.
The exhibition contained solo collection of photos by Mrs Shehnaz Khalid, a house-wife.
The viewers thronged the exhibition which was held at Mufti Mahmood Memorial Library where more than 200 pictures were displayed to highlight the evolution of architectural , socio- economic and religious aspects of Dera region.
The exhibition organized by a lady, first ever of its kind, for the sole purpose of establishing connections between different segments of the society in an area which has remained a victim of rampant violent incidents at the gate-way of South Waziristan Agency was appreciated by all.
The photo-exhibition was inaugurated by Mrs Ahmad Hussain while the visitors included students, educationists, members of civil society and social activists.
The Chief guest Dr. Mansoor Akbar Kundi Vice Chancellor Gomal University while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the exhibition underlined that photo was a medium of expression through which a message could be delivered effectively to the viewers.
He lauded the effort of Mrs Shehnaz Khalid who according to him brought certain angles of the ever-changing society of her region to spot light.
The photographs displayed at exhibition also shed light on old and historic architecture of D.I.Khan. He noted that such a rare example of an effort for the preservation of cultural and social heritage and social norms of the society was a commendable step .He urged local authorities for the patronage of such groups and individuals to organize more such events in future .
Mrs Shehnaz Khalid informed visiting media people that photos also contained the archeological sites across the D.I.Khan region. The amusing aspect of the exhibition was, photographs of ruins of early civilizations which have been obliterated in which the multiple angles of these sites were unearthed .She said that much to her surprising that a good number of women participated who could not think of leaving the compounds of their homes . 

Are they not Pakistanis!

Are they not Pakistanis!....http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/8630/

 Dotani, Suleman Khels want citizenship
Farooq Mehsud
D.I. KHAN: The elders of Dotani and Suleman Khel tribes of South Waziristan Agency once again demanded that the government give them status of full citizens as those of the other residents of Fata.
The movement for the idenitity of Dotani and Suleman Khels namely Tehreek-e-Pahchan will continue until the government of Pakistan recognizes Dottani and Suliman Khel tribes as Pakistani, wowed the elders of the two tribes during a press conference held in the Fatah Mur , D I khan.
The Dottani and Sulimen Khel tribes inhibits of Toi
Khulla Tehsil of Wana sub-division, South Waziristan are holders of CNIC, and citizens of Pakistan, said that in spite of the CNIC, the government is arresting us and put us behind the bars. The police arrest us saying that we are Afghanis .
This humiliation of the Dottanis and Suliman Khels should be stopped otherwise both the tribes will boycott the upcoming General Election, 2013, Malik Nawab stated in a Press Conference held here on Friday.
He added that whenever any important political leaders come to Dera Ismail khan or Tank Districts the Police start arresting the persons belonging to Dottani and Sulimen Khal tribes, adding that during the PTI's Chairman, Imran Khan, visit to D.I.Khan 10 persons belonging to Dottani and Sulimen Khel were arrested. Malik Nawab said, that Tehsil Toi Khulla is the only area in FATA where peace prevails, but in spite of it our area is the most backward in the field of education, health and others basic facilities, adding that nobody is caring about our problems.
Raza Dotani said, that the Dottani we are respectful people, and our forefathers had ruled over sub continent for centuries, if someone doesn't believe in our history than he should reread it.
It is to be noted that Dottani and Sulimen Khel tribes inhibit on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border ( Durand line) and in Pakistan having lands in the Toi Khul Tehsil of Wana sub-division South Waziristan but they are not given as the first class citizens status and still they are considered as nomads.
They have protested for their status time and again as they say they should also be given same status as that of the other tribal people.
They also complain that they are not given their due share in the annual development program which they say is a sheer injustice with the sister tribes of South Waziristan agency.

Candidate boycotts polls

Candidate boycotts polls.............http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/7889/

 Farooq Mehsud
D.I. KHAN: Badshahi Khan Mehsud, an independent Candidate on NA-41-South Waziristan boycotted the forthcoming Election, 2013 due to non-availability of polling Stations for hundreds of thousands Mehsud IDPs settled across the country in a Press Conference held in Dera Ismail khan.-The Election Commission of Pakistan is going to set up polling stations for the Mehsud IDPS only in the District Tank.
He said, that Khyber Pakhthunkhawa Governor, Engineer Shukat-u-llah during his recent visit to tank made promise to provide the Mehsud IDPs with polling Stations in all those areas where they are settled in large number, but it seems that Governor is not true to his words because arrangement for the Mehsud IDPs yet to be made.

PTI's tsunami in Karak and Dera

PTI's tsunami in Karak and Dera.......http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/7354/

Army to be recalled from Fata, says Imran

Shafiuddin Shafqi & Farooq Mehsud

KARAK/D.I.KHAN: The central Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has resolved that Pakistani nation would be freed from the slavery of America and the war on terror imposed by the US.
He was addressing a big public gathering here on Sunday at Karak and Dera Isamil Khan regarding his party electioneering campaign and added that peace would be returned to the conflict ravaged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He resolved that Pakhtuns would be given an opportunity to live with peace in their homeland as they have endured a lot of hardships. Mr Khan further resolved that the problems with Afghanistan would be resolved through negotiations and the army and the nation would be saved. He added that the military would not be used against the own citizen of the country and added that peace was the first condition for the investment in the country.
He added that billion of dollars have the Pakistani in foreign banks but they could not come to Pakistan to invest here as the investors needed peace and stressed that until and unless there was no peace in the country no investor would come to the country.
Khan claimed that Pakistani nation has decided for change and resolved to bring change at any cost to create a new Pakistan on the map of the world.
The PTI Chief predicted that good days were awaited for Pakistan and the people of other countries would come to Pakistan for employments and asked the people to get rid of Zardari and Nawaz Sharif.
Khan said that those who were responsible of this rotten system could not change the system and added that no more the tax evaders could lead the nation. The PTI Chairman added that they were the brothers of each others as their interests were the same and resolved that PTI would end their turns with the support of the masses.
He claimed that his party was fighting for the rights of the poor masses and added that from today they should stand for their right along with PTI. He asked the people that they have gotten an opportunity to change the destiny of the nation therefore they should support the PTI on May 11, to run the thieves and plunderers from the country. On the occasion the NA-15 candidate of PTI Nasir Khan Khattak and PK-40 Karak-I and PK-41 Karak-II candidates Gul Sahib Khan and Saleem Khan also spoke to the public gathering. Nasir Khan also presented the welcome address to the PTI Chief. Imran pledges restoration of peace in Pashtun areas
Farooq Mehsud adds from Dera Ismail Khan:
Addressing to huge public gathering PTI chief Imnran Khan said that we will bring peace through the people of Waziristan and Pak Army to call back from Fata, The money that is spending on the war in tribal area will be spent on the welfare of the people. We will give employment, education and will carry on other development work. And PTI will take the accountability of those who have done cruelties with the Waziristani people. Khan added that change is needed for "New Pakistan." Allah-Almighty gives one chance to every nation for a change in her conditions, and the Pakistani nation has got this chance now." Khan said that if the youth give support to me, we will throw all the political thieves and slaves of America out.
Dost Muhammad, PTI's Candidate on NA-42 South Waziristan said, that we are thankful to Imran khan for his support to the people of Waziristan on every forum, adding that we the people of Waziristan will give him a new name, the Babar Sher.
Dost Muhammad added that Imran khan always condemn drone attacks and showing sympathy with the people affected people of Waziristan, and it is the reason that the people of Waziristan is with Imran khan.

2 killed in SWA rocket attack

2 killed in SWA rocket attack....http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/6936/

 Farooq Mehsud
D.I . KHAN: At least two local tribesmen were killed and 22 other injured in a rocket attacks which targeted the election gathering of independent candidate at Wana the main town of South Waziristan Agency. Political administration confirmed the incident and said five rockets were fired form the nearby hills of Kot Kunar.
A rocket landed near the gathering of independent candidate and exploded with a big bang causing death of two participants while left another 22 injured who were shifted to the local hospital of Wana and some to the Military Hospital of the scouts' camp at Wana.
The officials said the rest of the four rockets landed in barren land and no life loss was reported. Soon after the incident the Wana Bazar was closed and people rushed to their homes while emergency was declared in the hospitals. No one claimed the responsibility of the incident. It is to be mentioned here that due to the worsening law and order situation in the tribal areas, the election campaign is still limited to person to person contact as no candidate has held any big gathering. The local experts of the area are of the opinion that due to the recent rocket attacks, the election campaign in the tribal areas is likely to be affected immensely.

Withdrawal of forces from Fata PTI’s priority: Dost

Withdrawal of forces from Fata PTI’s priority: Dost.....
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/6507/

Farooq Mehsud
D.I.KHAN: Withdrawal of Pakistani Security forces from FATA is priority of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , said Dost Mohammad , PTI's Candidate from NA-42
South Waziristan while addressing a Jirga of the Mehsud tribal elders in Town Hall Dera Ismail khan on Wednesday. Dost Muhammad said, that PTI priority was to re-build South Waziristan and restore peace with the aim to facilitate the return of the IDPs to their home towns and providing the affected families with compensation.
PTI will disengage with the USA in the war on terror and will withdraw back the Pakistani security forces from South Waziristan, adding that that youth of Waziristan will be provided with employment in order to divert them from negative activities and made them useful citizens of Paksitan.
He said wrong image of Waziristan was created across the world and called them terrorist, but the fact is that Waziristani tribal are peace loving people, adding that there is not even a single case of causing human or metrical damage by the tribal during the PTI Peace March To South Waziristan.
He woved to carry the mission of Imran khan to its logical conclusion, and also in his address Dost Muhammad greatly thanked Imran Khan for reposing confidence in him and said that Inshallah with the Allah Al-Mighty and support of the people he will win the forth coming election. 

Effects of terrorism on music in Waziristan

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/3781/ 

Effects of terrorism on music in Waziristan

  
07-04-2013
Farooq Mehsud
Mr. Rehmat, a 50 years old drummer from District Tank KPK, is Saraiki speaker but in spite of the fact that he is non-Pashto speaker, he was a prominent member of music band of the renewed singer of South Waziristan late Kamal Mahsud. In the city of Tank and in Waziristan where from 9/11, music/drum beating is like a camel in a taxi but he was beating his drums very slowly in his home even now I feel fear and terror from his expressions of face due to the prevailing law and order situation in the tribal belt of Pakistan, which affected activities badly, serving a miserable life with meager economic resources and beautiful memories of the past, when he was living a prosperous life among the culture loving people of Waziristan. "I have been beating drums when I was 10 years old and it is not only my profession but with the passage of time it becomes my hobby and I have beaten my drums even in the Presidency in different functions," he said.
His work and profession is not only affected, but almost it has been stopped and finished since 2004, the war on terror was first launched in the region. To quote Mr. Rehmat, "Now I am regretting because this skill gave me nothing I suppose to learn some other skill at least I can run my kitchen".
He was depressed too much, as having no money to visit hospital in case someone is ill in his family, children education suffered due to lack of resources and he is unable to pay their school fee. He remained unfamiliar with any other skills as he spent the whole of his life in the same skill of drum beating which as a profession is almost strictly prohibited in the area and the people cannot arrange programs and ceremonies in the area due to life threats from the miscreants.
Music is an essential part of Pashtun culture. Its presence must be acknowledged in every happy moment either it was a marriage or other events in Hujra. They are the true reflectors and representatives of the sweet feelings and emotions of Pashtun society. But due to terrorism in South Waziristan and in outskirts, 105 music artists are now living from hand to mouth. Mr. Rehmat (Tabla Marr) in a smiling face says that in peaceful days in this region, music played a very important role in bringing happiness. Here common people enjoy it a lot because they want to be a part of happiness and peace.
"Pashtuns are music lovers. In the peaceful days, I observed in my every music program when all the young and old would get together in a spark for their traditional Attan dance", he remembered.
Music and traditional songs are very common in whole of the tribal belt especially in carnivals, local sports events and in traditional cultural programs. But now due to threats from the miscreants, all the talented and famous singers like late Kamal Mahsud, Ayub Khan, Shan Mahsud and Qutab khan left their native land and are living undercover life. They have no area with their profession any more.
Gul Zaman (Drum Beater) 70, says despite my 60 years association with this profession I left it because it has lost its value and now it is not reflecting the true feelings and sentiments of the communities concerned. "Here situation is not favorable and we have no choice other than to leave this profession because when there is no happiness, there is no music we even don't beat our drums as practice or for our own pleasure", he added.
In the conflict zones of Pakistan, the government provides assistance to the musicians but they totally ignored the musicians of Waziristan and Tank districts. That's why the daughter of Rehmatullah (famous Tabla Marr in the area) Zarrina told The Frontier Post that I remember the past days when people would invite us for their every event and our drum was the sign of peace and emotion in Pukhtun culture. But now the situation is different and we are facing problems and difficulties and no one cares about our happiness and emotions. "Last month my father broke his leg and we have no money to take him to the doctor in DI Khan. After three days when the doctor visited Tank district then I took my father to him for bandage of his foot", he said.
Music not only gives happiness but it always helps to provide strength and health to our nerves and brain. The psychiatrist in the D.I. Khan Government Hospital, Muneer Dawar told The Frontier Post that from the last few years, he has noted increase in the cases of physiological disorder from Waziristan and outskirts. It has many reasons but restriction on music is the essential one because they banned a way in which people can express their feelings and emotions. He defended his comments and said, "A person who avoids from listening to music, he has some physiological problem".
If terrorism on the one hand destroyed the folk music and musicians of Waziristan and Tank districts but on the other hand, now some of the young have started to bring peace and produce the new modern music to give a message of peace through their culture in the region. Said Alam Mahsud a young local singer, who took birth in singing field, in terrorism and he uses his music to give hope to his people. Said Alam Mahsud sings songs of peace from the last two years. He told that poetry and music is the only hope for us to give happiness to our people and remind them our peaceful past. No one can destroy our cultural tradition and values till we keep alive our music and poetry. "Terrorism destroys our houses and we are living in camps as IDPs now it's our responsibility to give hope and happiness to our people and we used music as instrument for that which is an essential part of Pukhtun culture".
Said Alam nowadays voluntarily performs in the cultural events in D.I. Khan and in other parts of the country just for to alive their culture and to bring peace through music. South Waziristan's senior retired bureaucrat Dost Muhammad Mehsud said that the government should make a separate special quota and provision in the federal/ provincial budget for the artists, musicians, drum beaters etc hailing from South Waziristan and District Tank and outskirts so that the cultural activities.

ATC acquits two suspects

ATC acquits two suspects......http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/5523/

 Farooq Meshud
D.I. KHAN: Anti-Terrorism Court acquitted two suspected members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Walid Akber and Akramullah on benefits of doubt. On November 24, 2012, 9 persons were killed and 26 were injured when a roadside bomb, planted inside a pressure cooker went off targeting the 9th Moharam Procession in Toi Fazal area of Dera Ismail Khan City. Later on D.I. Khan Police officials told media persons in a press conference that D.I.Khan police arrested Walid Akber who was also a police constable and Akramullah in a raid and two suicide jackets and other explosive materials were recovered from their possession. The police also had told media that Walid Akber and Akramullah reveled to the police during investigation that they were the members of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Walid Akber was called Danyal and Akramullah was called Usman within the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi organization.

PTI SWA warns to quit party if merit violated

PTI SWA warns to quit party if merit violated......http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/4298/


Farooq Mehsud
D.I. KHAN: PTI South Waziristan unit has threatened to quit party if tickets were not given to those recommended by the local unit for NA-41 and 42. Afsar Khan Mehsud President PTI South Waziristan told in a press conference on Monday.
"We have sent three names to the parliamentary board and they have received it" said Afsar adding that if party tickets were awarded to others than the recommended ones , we have a plan to form PTI Nazaryathi Group and will contest elections from the pate from of that for NA-41 and 42 South Waziristan. He told that the three names were recommended with consensus of the local cabinet and Party workers. One name Badshahi Khan Mehsud for NA-41 and two names Dost Muhamad Khan Mehsud and Javaid Iqbal for NA-42 of South Waziristan. Afsar khan added
He said that those recommended certainly deserve to contest election on PTI's tickets because of their services and spreading the message of Imran Khan in South Waziristan in a situation where no one could pick the PTI flag. They also warned to set up a hunger camp in front of PTI central secretariat if their demands were not met with.

62 Levies men tender resignations in SWA

62 Levies men tender resignations in SWA............http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/3029/

Farooq Khan Mahsud
D I KHAN: At least 62 Levies personnel of Dottani and Sulimen Khel tribes of Tehsil Toi Khulla of Wana Sub-division, South Waziristan returned back their weapons to the Political Administration of the agency over the alleged mistreatment and injustices done with them by the Assistant Political Officer, on Wednesday.
Levies personnel told The Frontier Post that the Levies personnel of Tehsil Toi Khulla, 59 Dottani and 3 Sulimen Khel collectively decided and returned back the weapons and uniforms to the Political Administration of South Waziristan. The issue of tendering resignations by the Dottani and Sulimen Khel tribes came to surface when 3 Levies personnel went to their homes on leave given by the Assistant Political Officer (APO) of South Wazirstan, Hameedullah Khattak but these Levies personnel did not return to their duties on time but availed two more leaves without informing the APO. The APO as a punishment did not pay the salaries of 62 Levies personnel for the Month of April. The APO asked the Levies personnel to resign and said that this was not injustice. On this, Levies personnel returned the weapons and uniforms.