Land 'occupation' by FC: hunger strike in Khyber Agency enters fourth day

The hunger strike camp of tribesmen of Khatia Khel of Khyber Agency against the occupation of their land at Shah Kas by Frontier Corps continued for fourth consecutive day on Thursday at Sher Shah Suri Road. Talking to media persons at the camp, tribal elders Barkat Afridi, Mohammad Irfan, Sher Mohammad and Gul Baz said that after several demonstrations, they had set up the hunger strike camp, which had continued for the fourth day.
They lamented that they have not yet got a positive response from the government or the officials of Frontier Corps. "The Frontier Corps is busy constructing boundary wall and paying no attention towards our demand," they said, adding that political administration had failed to consider peoples' request. "We are the real owners of 2,500 acre land in Shah Kas areas of Jamrud Khyber Agency but Frontier Corps has illegally occupied it. We do not want to start tussle with our own forces on land so it should be returned to us," they said.
They also claimed that they had all relevant documents relating to ownership and demarcations decided under an agreement in 1912 and it was not a disputed area. They informed that before the occupation of land, a plain notice was issued to them for vacation it, saying it was sheer violation of the agreement and injustice with the poor people. The protestors appealed government to take immediate notice of the situation and help them in getting their land back.