Royalty denial: Chitralis set to resume hashish cultivation

CHITRAL, March 7: People of Yarkhun have decided to resume cultivation of hashish in the valley over prolonged royalty denial.The decision was announced by Yarkhun elders during a news conference here the other day.Ahmad Nabi Shah, Hussain Shah and Zar Mohammad told reporters that the valley's land was best for hashish cultivation and that growers got bumper harvest every year. They said hashish cultivation was introduced by the rulers of the former princely state of Chitral, who brought its seeds from Afghanistan in 1920s.The elders said hashish brought prosperity to the area and that it was used by human beings, animals and birds. They said the federal government banned hashish cultivation in 1980s by offering growers royalty but unfortunately, not a single penny had been paid to them to their misery.The elders said local growers had decided to resume hashish cultivation in April for sustenance seeing the government fail to pay them the promised royalty.Also in the day, people of Kalash valley of Rumbur demanded action against Ayun villagers over denial of Rumbur forest ownership to them. Addressing a news conference here, Kalash elders Saifullah Jan, Katar Singh, Surat Khan and others said villagers of Ayun's Thoriandeh and Muldeh areas resorted to hooliganism after losing their case about ownership of Rumbur forest in the Supreme Court.They said Thoriandeh and Muldeh people harassed them and denied them Rumbur forest ownership. They also accused the villagers of establishing an illegal checkpost in Ayun and attacking police.Kalash elders urged the government to ensure enforcement of the court orders and provide them with protection for safe transportation of timber to the market.