ISLAMABAD – PTI has set a new precedence in the politics of Pakistan as itnominated *Wazir Zada, a socio-political activist from Chitral as its MPAin the KP Assembly. *
*He will be the first ever Kalash legislator on a reserved seat forminorities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.*
Kalash or Kalasha are the smallest ethno-religious community of Pakistanand are famous for their beliefs, culture and festivals. Wazir Zada, whohas a masters in political science from Peshawar University and then joinedthe Ayun and Valleys Development Programme, gained popularity for hiscommunity service for Kalash people through local support organisationsbased in Ayun and the adjoining Kalash valleys.
Under his leadership, the community service gained widespread success inChitral. Wazir Zada, through his tireless dedication to this social cause,successfully brought international and national donors to the valleys towork with the local community directly. They also work on Kalash culturalpreservation.
Wazir Zada has been affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from thestart. The party gave Wazir Zada the chance to become the first Kalashperson to be elected to the provincial assembly on one of the two reservedseats for minorities.
The people of the two ancient valleys of Bumburate and Birir came out onSaturday to celebrate Wazir Zada’s win.
Khizer Hayat, a government employee from Chitral who first broke the newsof Wazir Zada’s new status as an MPA on social media, told SAMAA Digitalthat when he found out about the young activist from his home who wouldbecome an MPA, he was very happy.
“It is a big day for the Kalash people, as for the first time in history aKalash community member has been nominated by a political party for anassembly seat,” he said.
A young Chitrali man named Azhar Ali said the nomination of people from theKalash tribes to the national and provincial assembly would address themarginalisation of the people residing in the Chitral district.
“We speak different languages in the region and the Kalash from the Dardicfamily of the Indo-Aryan branch is a historical dialect,” he added.
Azhar said that the PTI’s victory means that the problems faced bymarginalised communities such as the Kalash and others living in theChitral Valley will be addressed in the assembly floor by their ownrepresentative.
“Now it is a matter of great pleasure that we have our own representativewho could solve our problems. This is encouraging and he will be the firstKalash member in history to become a member of the KP Assembly,” wrote aKalash community member on social media.
The final results for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa show that the PTI will have 67members in the provincial assembly and that the combined opposition at thispoint is 30.