Fata Qaumi Jirga (FQJ) has announced it will organise a 'grand protest' in Jamrud region of Pakistan on May 8 against the merger of tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a news conference at Landi Kotal Press Club on Sunday, FQJ leaders Malak Bismillah Khan, Malak Abdur Razzaq, Malak Bahadar Shah, Haji Mohammadi Shah, Malak Tamash Khan and others were quoted as saying by Dawn News that the protest of May 8 would be a decisive moot against what they called forced and unconstitutional merger of erstwhile Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said that invitations were extended to all the anti-merger elements in the seven merged districts and hectic efforts were afoot to hold the demonstration in a forceful manner to convey a strong refusal of the plan to federal and provincial governments.

The elders said that neither tribesmen were taken into confidence about the merger plan nor were majority of the erstwhile Fata population in favour of doing away with their previous status.

They said that tribesmen were still in favour of traditional jirga system for resolution of their disputes instead of the extension of judicial system to their regions.