Militancy, power and gas loadshedding, price hike and kidnappings paint a gloomy picture of the Frontier
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Javed Aziz Khan
PESHAWAR: Million of residents of Frontier and Fata are worried about the future of their families and the fate of their homeland in the wake of unprecedented crises that the region has been facing for the last many years.
Uncertainty and insecurity has been prevailing everywhere for the last over two years and one cannot find a person who is not scared of everyday bomb blasts, suicide attacks, rocket barrages and kidnapping for ransom.
“On the 1st of January, when people across the world were celebrating the advent of New Year, the residents of the capital city woke up with no light in their homes. To their utter disappointment, there was no gas in their stoves when one wanted to prepare breakfast,” recalled Abdul Rahman, a resident of Dora Road, near Kohat Road in suburbs of Peshawar.
Peshawar and other parts of the country have been severely hit with record power and gas loadshedding over the last several months. People are surprised as to why a country has been hit so severely with power and gas crises that was never witnessed in the past.
“On the one hand we stay at home due to the hours-long power and gas loadshedding, while on the other we cannot go outside for the fear of being kidnapped for ransom. The situation has come to such a passÈ that people who never carried guns are now carrying Kalashnikovs,” remarked Javed Khan, chief executive of a pharmaceutical unit.
Kidnapping for ransom has recorded an unprecedented increase during the last half of 2008. The official statistics, which never showed the real figures, have even admitted over 90 percent increase in the crimes last year.
Kidnapping for ransom has confined people to their houses after sunset while carrying weapon has become a must. The suburban towns wear a deserted look after the sunset following manifold increase in the crime rate.
As kidnapping has deserted the surrounding of Peshawar, the threat of bombings and suicide attacks have stopped people from visiting crowded bazaars, parks and public places. Many believe that Peshawar is the second vulnerable town after Swat in terms of worsening law and order situation.
Four suicide bombers had struck in Peshawar while overall 30 had blown up themselves across the NWFP during the year 2008. At least 16 suicide bombers hit their targets in the adjacent tribal areas to make things worst for those living in this part of the world.
The US drone attacks, rocket barrages from unknown locations and attacks on Nato supplies have further played havoc with peace of mind of the people of the area. Desertions in police and security forces speak volumes for threats to those supposed to improve the law and order.
“Apart from that, you see the price hike. The prices are far higher in Fata and Frontier than those in other parts of the country. A common Peshawarite could get a 20kg bag of flour at Rs930 three months back when it was being sold at around 400 in Punjab. The same is with the prices of other edibles,” lamented Nazar Ali of Qamardin Garhai.
People are surprised as to why not the prices of items, which shot up as a result of increase in fuel prices, were reduced after the price of per barrel petrol has come down to 36 US dollars from 140.
“Not only the price has not been reduced according to the international market but petrol and gas are not being sold in the city filling stations to create an artificial crisis,” Naseer Khan, a political worker associated with the ruling coalition, opined.
The situation has disappointed people to the extent that they have started demanding of the rulers to step down due to their failure to improve the situation. “If this is really the part of an international conspiracy of separating and isolating the region from the rest of the country and the world, then why the rulers are silent? Why those in power are acting on the directives of others,” questioned Farmanullah, a teacher by profession.
Following the ugly turn in situation, the dwellers of Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Hangu, Mardan, Charsadda and Swat districts of Frontier as well as North and South Waziristan, Kurram, Orakzai, Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur tribal agencies have either shifted to Islamabad and other places or they are planning for it in the near future.
“There are no signs of improvement in the law and order situation in Peshawar and other troubled towns. So it is better to shift to safer place and invest there instead of risking your life and family,” stated the disappointed Nadeem Malik.
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