Govt asked to repatriate Khyber Agency IDPs forthwith

BARA: Leaders of various political parties from Khyber Agency have asked the government to start forthwith repatriation of the displaced families to their native areas.They expressed concern over the postponement of the repatriation process that was first scheduled to begin fromDecember 25, last year and then on January 15, this year.
Talking to The News on Sunday, Tehreek-e-Mutasireen Bara head and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Khyber Agency chapter president Iqbal Afridi said the IDPs from Khajuri and Tirah valley in Bara tehsil were facing a host of problems in the settled areas.
He said the displaced people had been hit hard by financial problems as they could not afford to rent houses and meet families’ needs. “Before Operation Khyber-1, the displaced people used to run businesses in Batathal Bazaar and in their own areas to earn livelihood,” he said, adding, the government had not provided even basic facilities to IDPs belonging to Khyber Agency.
He said the IDPs had left behind their property and businesses and settled in tents and rented houses. “The government received funds from donors in the name of displaced tribal people. Officials claim they are giving all facilities to the IDPs staying at relief camps but they have even cut off electricity supply to Jalozai Camp,” he argued.
Shah Faisal Afridi, a leader of Jamaat-e-Islami in Khyber Agency, said the government had failed to resolve the issue of displacement.He said the federal government had promised to provide food package and financial help to the IDPs but gave them nothing.
He said the infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, basic health units, roads and the lone college had been destroyed in the military operations in Bara tehsil during the last seven years.
The JI leader warned the displaced people from Bara would stage a protest sit-in outside the Governor’s House today (Monday). He asked the government to make arrangements for return of the IDPs as soon as possible after providing them proper relief package.
When contacted, director operation and relief of the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA), Farman Khilji, said the government had not declared the final date for return of the displaced families from Khyber Agency.
He said the FDMA had made arrangements to provide all facilities to the families once the government announced beginning of the repatriation process. “Besides transportation, the FDMA will also provide free ration enough for six months, hygiene kits and Rs25,000 each to the displaced people,” he added.