Jameel Masih's demeanor was heavy with sorrow and grief as he recounted his recent loss. Just two months ago, his newborn child passed away, adding layers of anguish to their already burdened hearts. Describing the ordeal, Jameel shared, "The pain of losing our child was compounded when we had to transport the little one to the Christian graveyard in Nowshera, miles away from Bajaur. Meanwhile, my wife was hospitalized, finances were strained, and we lacked close relatives to assist us. It was a harrowing and trying time."
He continued, "I felt lost, unsure of how to support my wife and manage our expenses. Somehow, we arranged the funds and, with the grace of Allah, hired transportation to take my wife to the hospital and lay our child to rest. Traveling nearly 150 kilometers with fellow community members, we reached Nowshera, where some relatives had already prepared the grave. Despite the solemn burial, my thoughts lingered on my wife's well-being in the hospital. As night descended during the burial proceedings, we found ourselves compelled to stay overnight in Nowshera, further escalating our expenses to over one lakh rupees."
Jameel Masih lamented that such challenges are not unique to his family but are shared by all Christians residing in Bajaur. Whenever there's a death in the community, they are forced to transport the deceased hundreds of miles away for burial due to the absence of a local cemetery.
Situated in the northernmost reaches of the tribal belt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bajaur lies about 150 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Peshawar. Parvez Masih, a 60-year-old Christian community leader in Bajaur, revealed their plea for merely two kanals of land has gone unanswered, despite assurances from political entities and the district administration. This burial issue is not exclusive to Bajaur but extends to the other six tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, South, and North Waziristan.
According to the 2017 census, out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's five million population, approximately 3,100 Christians are residing in the tribal districts. Arshad Masih from the Christian community in Khyber district highlighted the diminishing space in Landi Kotal's Christian cemetery and the encroachment upon cemetery land in Jamrud tehsil, allocated during the British era. As a result, many Christians are compelled to bury their loved ones several miles away in Peshawar or Nowshera.
Michael, a resident of Jamrud Tehsil in the Khyber District, recounted how the British government designated sixteen acres of land as a Christian cemetery in 1909, yet only about 150 graves exist due to encroachments and construction activities. He revealed ongoing legal efforts to regain land ownership through a case filed in the District Sessions Judge's Court.
About 70 Christian families residing in the Mohmand district face challenges in burying their deceased due to inadequate facilities. They are compelled to transport their loved ones' bodies about 200 kilometers away to the Gora graveyard or Wazir Bagh in Peshawar for burial, incurring hefty expenses of up to one lakh rupees solely for vehicle fare.
Malik Shehryar Masih, a local Christian community leader in Mohmand district, disclosed that two years ago, eight kanals of land were allocated near the Ghalanai headquarters for a Christian cemetery. However, due to the absence of proper enclosure, people hesitate to bury their dead there. Despite repeated appeals to the district administration, no progress has been made, leaving them with no choice but to bury their deceased in the Christian cemetery of Peshawar.
Similarly, in the Wana area of South Waziristan, the Christian community faces challenges with their cemetery. Akash Masih, a local political leader, highlighted the inadequate facilities and the damage caused to graves while constructing a protective wall. Despite complaints, no substantial action has been taken, making it difficult for them to bury their dead.
In another instance, Dayal Singh from the tribal district of Khyber was tragically shot dead in his shop in Peshawar. His brother, Sachan Singh, faced challenges in arranging his last rites as there is no crematorium in Peshawar or the Khyber district. Consequently, he had to transport Dayal Singh's body to Attock, incurring substantial expenses exceeding 80 thousand rupees. Gurpal Singh, a Sikh community activist, revealed that despite efforts, the construction of a crematorium announced by the provincial government in 2008 has not materialized.
Currently, the Sikh community in Peshawar transports deceased loved ones to the Attock border area for cremation, facing financial burdens and logistical challenges. He emphasized the need for a cremation ghat in Peshawar or improved facilities in Bara Tehsil of Khyber tribal district to enable the Sikh community to perform the last rites of their deceased and conduct religious ceremonies locally.
Haroon Sarab Dayal, an advocate for religious minority rights, revealed that during the second term of the Tehreek-e-Insaf government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a substantial amount was allocated for the welfare of religious minorities. However, despite earmarking funds for crematoriums and Christian cemeteries, the committee formed for their construction included individuals on political grounds. Moreover, the identified sites were deemed unsuitable, as per minority beliefs, crematoriums should be situated away from populated areas, preferably on riverbanks, with no possibility of relocation.
Presently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts nine cremation grounds, but only one adheres to religious norms and lacks essential amenities. Wilson Wazir, a former member of the Provincial Assembly, highlighted the deficiencies in the Bara Tehsil cremation ground during the Tehreek-e-Insaf government's tenure, attributing the delay in preparing the PC-1 and the cancellation of the annual development fund.
Hukam Das, a Hindu community leader residing in Hasan Abdal, raised concerns about land encroachment in Kurram district, where 650 families left due to sectarian tensions in 2006. Despite informing the administration, no action has been taken to protect the Hindu Bhari graveyard in the Amalkot area.
Wilson, representing the merged tribal districts' minority seat, extensively toured Bajaur to Waziristan to address community issues, particularly the Christian community's deprivation of basic facilities, including burial rites.
In North Waziristan, the "Gora Graveyard" reserved for Christians faced disruption since 1999, prompting the government to allocate four kanals of land within the cantonment. However, local encroachments and market constructions violated the graves' sanctity, affecting over 200 families.
Regarding Christian cemeteries and cremation grounds in tribal districts, Rizwana Dar Khan, Deputy Secretary of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, reported no applications received, emphasizing the department's readiness to address concerns if brought forward by minority leaders.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs, Adnan Qadri's PRO, Riaz Ghafoor, assured the government's commitment to addressing religious minority issues, including burial facilities, housing, education, and scholarships, following the integration of former FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
