Tirah IDPs sceptical about return plan
KHYBER: A majority of the internally displaced families from Tirah Valley here have expressed scepticism about their return that is expected to start on Oct 10. Most IDPs told Dawn in Bara that the provincial government or the Khyber district administration had yet to issue a formal notification about their return, while no practical arrangements for any return plan had yet to be seen on ground.…
In Tirah Valley, a significant number of internally displaced families are expressing doubt about the return plan set to commence on October 10. Many IDPs informed the Dawn news outlet in Bara that the provincial government and Khyber district administration have not issued a formal notification regarding their return. There are no concrete plans or preparations visible for the return process.
A displaced person mentioned that the return plan, which allows 50 families to be sent back daily from October 10, appears to be just a verbal announcement. They have yet to witness any registration centers or transportation arrangements being established. With around 27,000 families registered as displaced from various parts of Tirah, this return plan, according to the official schedule, would take approximately one and a half years to complete.
Suhbat Khan, a spokesman for the Tehreek-i-Mutasreen Tirah (TMT), provided a breakdown of the affected tribes, stating that 27,000 displaced families belong to six major tribes, each divided into 30 sub-tribes. He noted that under the current plan, eight families from each major tribe would be allowed to return daily. Subtribes may compete to determine how many members can be sent back.
Gul Zarin, a resident of Bagh Maidan staying with family members in Bara, claimed that neither the provincial nor the federal government is committed to supporting the displaced families. He recounted their harrowing journey in harsh winter conditions and the failure of authorities to provide promised assistance, including medical care and compensation.
Zarin criticized the provincial government's "criminal silence" on the return process and accused the district administration of abdicating their responsibilities in favor of a 24-member committee of Tirah elders, whom he deemed untrustworthy.
Haji Zareef, another resident, demanded compensation for the damage to their homes, loss of farmland due to illegal occupation, and the destruction of valuable forests. Meanwhile, a delegation of Sipah elders from Sanda Pal, Dray Naghari, Drowta, and Khapur areas met with the 27 Brigade commander in Tirah Maidan. They discussed the registration and return of nearly 400 families, who had been evacuated in November 2023 under the pretense of a military operation.
The security official assured the delegation that the displaced families could return within 15 days, but none of these families have been registered for assistance. The Sipah elders assured the regional security official of no objection to the return but suggested consulting the district administration for potential help.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
