Staff Report
UPPER:Residents of Owir valley in Upper Chitral have expressed strong concerns over their exclusion from the upcoming Tirich Mir Platinum Jubilee celebrations, being held with support from the Norwegian government.
In a meeting held in Barum village on Friday, local elders and elected representatives passed a unanimous resolution, stating that the people of Owir were not consulted or included in the planning of the event. They said this was despite the fact that in 1990, a mountaineering team from their area successfully climbed Tirich Mir using the South Brum and Glacier route.
The resolution said that the celebrations are being organized to mark 79 years of the first successful summit of Tirich Mir, and the people of Owir have a historical connection to the mountain. “Unfortunately, it seems efforts are being made to keep us out of these events,” the resolution read.
The community warned that if they are not made part of the celebrations, they will consider taking the following steps:
Hindering the ongoing celebrations.
Holding a peaceful protest on Shandur Road during the Shandur Festival.
Taking legal action.
The resolution urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority to engage with the local community before the Shandur Festival. It added that if the concerns are not addressed in time, the responsibility for any disruption will lie with the authorities.
Copies of the resolution have been sent to the KP Tourism Authority, Deputy Speaker KP Assembly, Deputy Commissioner Upper Chitral, Wing Commander Chitral Scouts, police officials, local PTI leaders, and media representatives.
