KOHAT, October 22, 2026 : Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Area Development Secretariat (ADS), Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada, on Thursday de-notified five members of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) representing Bajaur, Bannu, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan, and nominated five new members in their place.
According to separate notifications issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, the de-notified members include Shahabuddin Khan from Bajaur, Baz Muhammad Khan from Bannu, Maulana Misbahullah Dawar from North Waziristan, former Senator Maulana Saleh Shah from Upper South Waziristan, and Malik Jamil from Lower South Waziristan.
Under a separate notification, five new members have been nominated to the council. They include Malik Nasir Arang from Bajaur, Malik Farmanullah from Bannu, Malik Ruhullah from North Waziristan, Malik Muhammad Farooq Khan Mehsud from Upper South Waziristan, and Malik Haji Zafar Khan from Lower South Waziristan.
It is pertinent to mention that former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Shahabuddin Khan from Bajaur and former Senator Baz Muhammad Khan from Bannu had declined to join the council, maintaining that their names had been included without their consent.
Similarly, the members nominated from North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan reportedly refused to join the council in line with a decision by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).
Meanwhile, questions have also been raised over the inclusion of Malik Haji Sher Muhammad Khan as a member of the North Waziristan Development Council, as reports suggest that he died in a terrorist attack approximately three years ago.
According to some sources, Sher Khan of Mir Ali was supposed to be included in the consultative council, but Malik Haji Sher Muhammad Khan’s name was allegedly entered by mistake. However, the claim has not yet been officially confirmed.