Regi Model Town affectees demand justice

PESHAWAR: Announcing mass protests from next week, the affectees of the Regi Model Town on Tuesday rejected the offer of plots in the Peshawar Valley housing scheme, accusing the provincial government and the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) of betrayal and neglect.

Locked in a 32-year struggle for justice, the affectees announced mass protests outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the PDA office, and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office next week. The over 16,500 affectees, including women, called for the immediate resolution of their longstanding grievances.

Affectees lamented that the PDA had failed to deliver on its promises, pointing out that while payments for Regi Model Town plots were collected decades ago, possession remains elusive. They decried the “one step forward, two steps back” policy of the government, refusing to accept plots in Peshawar Valley. They noted that the Peshawar Valley project had already faced cancellations, with over 1,275 kanals of land transfers proven fraudulent, which they termed a disgrace for the PDA.

Highlighting the financial fallout, the affectees told reporters that land purchased in Peshawar Valley at Rs 2.5 million per kanal two years ago is now being sold for Rs 450,000. They called on the government to refund payments made 32 years ago at the prevailing bank rate or negotiate with local tribes to reclaim the land.

Sirajul Haq Yousafzai, president of the Regi Model Town Affectees Association, along with vice-presidents Dr Iqbal and Zakir Khan, general secretary Haroon Kamal, and other executive members, urged the government to allocate plots in Zones 3 and 4 of Regi Model Town, where the PDA has available plots. They stressed that the provincial government must prioritise completing this 32-year-old project over launching new ones.

General secretary of the association, Haroon Kamal, along with executive committee members Mohsin Khan, Dr Hazrat Khan, Professor Nasrullah, and Asif Khan, emphasized that despite 12 years of PTI’s government and numerous promises, the plight of over 16,500 affectees, including families of police martyrs and government employees, remains unchanged. They expressed frustration over the government’s failure to reclaim illegally occupied land and provide possession to rightful owners.

Meanwhile, the Local Government, Elections, and Rural Development Department has issued a notification regarding the extension of Hayatabad by creating Phases 8 and 9. A committee has been established under the Chairmanship of Commissioner Peshawar to resolve the ongoing dispute between the PDA and the Kukikhel tribe over the Regi Model Town land.

In a notification, the terms of reference for the committee outlined its mandate to verify the legitimacy of compensation claims for disputed land and address valid grievances. The committee will strategize the removal of illegal occupants from areas marked for the Hayatabad extension and engage with Kuki Khel tribal elders for a culturally sensitive resolution to the dispute. Its decisions will be binding on both the Peshawar Development Authority and the Kuki Khel tribe. Additionally, the committee is tasked with holding regular progress reviews and is empowered to propose further recommendations to ensure timely and effective resolution.

The affectees reiterated their demand for immediate action from NAB, the chief minister, and other relevant authorities to deliver justice and ensure the completion of Regi Model Town, warning that continued neglect would further erode public trust in the government and its institutions.