* Landikotal APA says Christians not issued certificates because they are not permanent tribal residents
* Agency MNA says he will discuss issue with Zardari soon
By Sami Ullah
LANDIKOTAL: The Khyber Agency political administration is not issuing domicile certificates to Christian inhabitants, tribal Christians told Daily Times on Wednesday.
Khyber Agency Christian Community Chairman Arshad Masih said, “We have contacted the political agent, the (NWFP) governor and (Federal) Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti for issuance of domicile certificates, but no action has been taken so far. We cannot apply for jobs without our domiciles.”
Permanent: Landikotal Assistant Political Agent (APA) Azam Jan Khalil said, “The Christians are not permanent residents of the Tribal Areas. That is why we have not issued them domicile certificates. The tribal people were also against the issuance of the certificates to the Christians, he added.
A senior member of the community said the government had given permanent residential rights to the Sikh community of the agency, but the Christians had been denied the same right.
There were a total 180 Christian families in the agency, a tribal Christian, Manzoor Masih, said.
The Christians said they had supported the Khyber Agency Member National Assembly (MNA) Noorul Haq Qadri in the February 18, 2008 polls.
Qadri said, “I am trying my best to provide alternative residence to the Christians. I discussed the domicile issue with the former political agent and former NWFP governor Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai but no one has given a solution. I will discuss the issue with President Asif Zardari soon.”
(Daily Times)
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