The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly members have unanimously approved a resolution seeking to change the name of the South Waziristan Upper district and proposed a new name.
Member of Provincial Assembly Asif Khan presented a resolution to change the name of the South Waziristan Upper district, which was unanimously approved by the House. The resolution proposed that the district be renamed “Mehsud Waziristan,” as approximately 90 per cent of the district’s population consists of Mehsud tribes.
The resolution emphasised that the current name does not reflect the local culture and identity. It is necessary to acknowledge and highlight the cultural identity of the local tribes by changing the district’s name. Asif Khan stated in the Assembly that recognising the identity of the Mehsud tribes is crucial at this time, and changing the name will reaffirm their cultural significance.
It is worth noting that in October 2022, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government divided South Waziristan into two districts. The official notification stated that South Waziristan has been split into South Waziristan Upper and South Waziristan Lower under the Land Revenue Act of 1967. While the division was well-received by locals, disagreements arose among the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan Upper regarding the district’s name.
