Stakeholders conference held for Resolving conflict on pasture/grazing land in Chitral.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: A day long stakeholder’s conference was held in a local hotel on resolving conflicts on pastures and grazing lands at Chitral. The conference was supported by Community Appraisal and Motivation Program (CAMP) funded by European Union which was implemented by Legal Aid Forum for Human Rights (LAFH).
Former MPA, advisor to Chief Minister and president PML-N Chitral chapter Saeed Ahmad was chief guest on the occasion while the ceremony was presided over by Maulana Sher Aziz former district Amir Jamat Islami.
Addressing to the conference Haji Abdul Nasir president LAFH said that most of Chitral people wasting their precious time and money on some local issues like grazing land and pastures. Their organization trying of its best to solve these issues through dialogues and negotiation.
The speakers said that there are two groups at Chitral one having goats and other are oppose of them with the opinion that grazing of goats causing for deforestation carrying devastation flood. While the Gujar and goat’s owners say that goats keeping are their only source of income and they have no alternate livelihood means.
The speakers suggested that after local body election legislation should to be framed for discouraging grazing of goats but it is not possible without amendment and legislation in local government. Because there is no such clearly clue in present constitutions to ban goat grazing. They said that due to grazing by goats in forest areas it causing for damaging of forest as a result so many precious lives with property were lost in tremendous flood. As well as these shepherds damaging green trees finally they dry and cutting.
Most of the speakers lamented district administration and Chitral police who badly failed to overcome these issues. They said that some conflicts are continuing for the last 100 years under trial in different courts which could not resolved. The religious scholars highly hailed efforts of LAFH for solving centuries old conflicts through dialogue which also strengthening mutual harmony among the rival groups. They criticized local police who could not implemented section 145 by district administration at Singor village where two rivals groups quarreled and injured some persons.
The conference was attended by representatives of different political and religious parties. Including prominent lawyers and founder member of LAFH Sirajuddin Rabbani Advocate, representatives of Chitral Scouts, Chitral police.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Professor Ghaniur Rehman, Haji Murad, Manager Anwar Baig, Rahmat Jafar Dost, Headmaster Ziauddin, Professor Rahmat Karim Baig, Haji Shnwari, Maulana Abdul Samie, Manager Sher Aga chairman of ICDP. The conference was concluded with praying words of Maulana Sher Aziz. A large number of people belonging to all walks of life participated in stakeholders’ conference.
Gul Hamaad Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral Pakistan phone No (0092) 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 ,03205989602, 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com, gulhamaad786@yahoo.co.uk,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com
