Locals uproot saplings planted during govt’s drive in Khyber

BARA: Locals of Mandi Kas area of Khyber Agency’s Bara uprooted saplings planted by the provincial lawmaker as part of a countrywide plantation drive.

The saplings were planted as part of the ’10 Billion Tree Tsunami’ initiative being commemorated on the Tiger Force Day. District administration informed that more than 6,000 new trees were planted in the area.

دا زمونږه قام دی نو!
نن په خېبر کښې د بوټو نالولو ورځ په محال دغه کسان ورغلل او ټول نال کړی شوي بوټي ئي وباسل – وايي تاسو بیا په دي زمکو قبضه کوئ! pic.twitter.com/Lwugn2Ba1v

— Riaz Ghafur (@riazghafur) August 9, 2020

Chaos ensued immediately after PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi’s campaign concluded. The residents staged a protest against the local administration and removed the saplings.

Locals claimed that they were forcefully planted on private land. The protestors had black flags in their hands and chanted slogans against the government.

When contacted, MNA Iqbal Afridi admitted that the plantation campaign had been carried out on a private property. “The locals are angry over the plantation drive. We are trying to negotiate with them,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Khyber Mahmood Aslam said that there was a dispute between two groups over land owned by the Sipah tribe. Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister has taken notice of the incident and ordered action against the perpetrators.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will kick-off, what is being dubbed, the biggest tree plantation drive in the country’s history today with a target to plant around 3.5 million trees in a day.