The senior leadership of the opposition in the National Assembly has voiced solidarity with tribal elders from South Waziristan, pledging to raise their concerns in the House. A delegation of tribal elders from the Wazir and Mehsud tribes met with opposition leaders, including Omar Ayub Khan, Asad Qaiser, and Mehmood Khan Achakzai, at the Parliament House on Monday. The tribal elders briefed the opposition leaders on the objectives of their demonstrations, highlighting issues such as the lack of compensation for damages caused by military operations, the 'One Document Regime,' and the closure of the Angoor Ada border. A resolution was passed during the meeting, emphasising the need to address these grievances and to demonstrate for the constitutional rights of the people of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (ex-FATA). Opposition Leader Omar Ayub endorsed their demands, promising to raise these issues in the National Assembly and advocate for their rights outside the legislature. "The non-redressal of the concerns of the tribal citizens will erode people's trust in the State," Ayub said. "It’s a question of the future of patriotic Pakistanis, and the government must take the demands of the people in tribal areas seriously." The leadership of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), an alliance of opposition parties, also vowed to support the residents of Waziristan. They collectively called for compensation for the damages inflicted by military operations and urged the federal government to honour its commitments to the tribal areas. Also read: Fazl seeks ‘guarantees’ to join opp alliance Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser stressed the economic implications of the imposed barriers. "Imposing barriers for the people will hinder economic progress and increase unemployment," he said. "It is both our duty and obligation to solve the problems of the people in tribal areas." Qaiser added that during his tenure as speaker, a special taskforce was constituted to address the grievances of the tribal people. "If the issues are not resolved, we will take to the streets," he warned. TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai highlighted the sacrifices made by the tribal people. "The people of the tribal areas have made immense sacrifices for Pakistan," he said. "It is our duty to ensure their voices are heard and their issues are addressed." Member of the Provincial Assembly from South Waziristan, Asif Khan Mehsud, underscored the prolonged suffering of the region's residents. "The ex-FATA region has been subject to sustained military operations since 2004, and the people of Waziristan have faced continuous displacement since 2006," he stated. "The state should honour the commitments it made to the people of Waziristan." The opposition leaders also condemned the disruption caused by the closure of the Angoor Ada border. "The closure of this border is not just a logistical inconvenience; it is a humanitarian issue," they stated. "Families are being torn apart and economic activities halted." They highlighted the severe lack of access to higher education, healthcare, employment, business opportunities, and mobile networks in the region. Due to the "One Document Regime", many students missed their annual exams, and relatives were unable to attend funerals. Emergency patients have suffered due to the inability to cross the border without a passport and visa. The tribal elders invited the opposition leadership to their Grand Jirga in Islamabad from June 4-6 and urged them to visit the tribal areas. The opposition leaders accepted both invitations, reaffirming their commitment to advocate for the rights of the tribal communities.
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