Bashir Hussain Azad | Chitral Today
CHITRAL: Representatives of eight village conservation committees (VCCs) from Toshi Shasha have issued a two-day ultimatum to the KP government to transfer Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wildlife Farooq Nabi.
They warned that if the government failed to do so, they would launch a protest sit-in on Garam Chashma road and suspend the markhor conservation activities in the conservancy.
Addressing a press conference at Chitral Press Club on Wednesday, VCC leaders Sher Afzal Khan, Amanullah Khan, Muhammad Usman, Wazir Khan, Abdul Jameel, Saddam Hussain, Muhammad Anwar, Panin Shah, Qayum Khan, Waqar Ahmad and others accused the DFO of colluding with MPA Fatahul Mulk Ali Nasir to establish an illegal VCC in Bohtoli village. They claimed this maneuver allowed the MPA to receive a large share from the trophy hunting proceeds, sidelining legitimate VCCs and depriving local communities of their rightful benefits.
They alleged that the so-called Bohtoli VCC does not represent the community and is unknown to residents. They also claimed that DFO Nabi falsely presented the MPA as an organization in violation of wildlife laws and ethics.
The situation further escalated, they said, when the DFO allegedly drew a pistol on a local person who challenged the legality of the Bohtoli VCC, an incident that has reportedly been registered with the police.
Despite bringing the issue to the attention of the chief conservator wildlife, the representatives lamented that no action had been taken so far. They warned that failure to dismantle the disputed VCC and return the funds received under its name will force them to take drastic steps, including withdrawal from all wildlife conservation efforts in the region.
They urged the provincial government to uphold transparency, respect local participation in conservation, and take immediate disciplinary action against those involved in manipulating the system for personal or political gain.