Tribal Areas (Fata) Students rally

Students rally for setting up varsity in Fata
Peshawar, Hundreds of students took out a procession here on Wednesday to seek establishment of a university in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The students of Fata, studying in different educational institutions of provincial metropolis, gathered near Qayum Sport Complex and marched till Peshawar Press Club on Saddar Road.

They participants were holding white flags, banners and placards inscribed with their demands for establishment of educational institutions in Fata and against killing of innocent people in drone attacks. Led by Waziristan Students Society head Malik Shad Khan, the participants of procession were also accompanied by a group of drumbeaters.

Talking to journalists, Mr Khan said that they had coined a slogan “eradicate ignorance and promote education” to draw the attention of government towards the pathetic condition of educational institutions in Fata. “We want educated tribal society instead of weapons,” he said and added that in the prevailing circumstances tribesmen were becoming more backward and it was time to pay them attention.

He said that people of Waziristan were intentionally kept backward for unknown reasons. Its results would be dangerous for the country if they were not facilitated in getting education, he added.

Mr Khan said that a 2,000-kanal piece of land had been acquired in FR Bannu for establishment of university. He said that university for tribesmen should be established in Fata instead of settled areas. He said that Kohat University had been basically approved for tribesmen but former governor Owais Ahmed Ghani established it in Kohat and deprived tribesmen of the facility.