Displaced persons end protest

PESHAWAR: The members of the Tehreek-e-Haqooq Bara on Monday staged a protest sit-in outside the Governor’s House and blocked the Sher Shah Suri Road for traffic against the government for not sending the internally displaced persons (IDPs) back to hometowns in Khyber Agency.
The hours long blockade of the busiest road caused worst traffic jam across the city for the entire day.
Led by leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Shah Faisal Afridi, Ikhtiar Bacha and others the protestors first blocked the road outside the Press Club and later marched towards Governor’s House where they staged a protest sit-in.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands, they urged the government to provide them relief packages like those given to the IDPs from Malakand and North Waziristan.
The protestors asked the government to announce compensation for families of all the dead and injured besides repairing the damaged houses.
They also demanded financial package for all the affected traders and release of salaries to all the government employees in Khyber Agency.
They protesters asked the government announce a schedule for their immediate return to native towns.
Expressing concern over the existing pathetic condition in Jalozai Camp and other areas, the speakers said that the IDPs were leading a miserable life in this winter and have no facilities to protect themselves from the chilling cold.
Thousands of students, they said, had been deprived of their education and medical facilities. The lack of foodstuff and other necessities of life had made their lives miserable and difficult.
They said the business had been badly affected and majority of their houses had been destroyed. The protesters demanded proper steps for the reconstruction of their houses. They resolved to continue the protest movement till the acceptance of their demands.
The authorities had already diverted vehicular traffic to other routes.
However, the people faced problems while trying to reach destinations.
The protesters later ended the blockade after getting assurance from the officials of Governor’s House that all their demands including their return and compensation would be met.
Earlier, a delegation of elders was invited to Governor’s House to discuss the issues. It was told that the governor had announced to repatriate the IDPs from Bara before third week of February as all arrangements for their return were finalised.
It was also assured that Rs850 million had been allocated for the provision of basic facilities and that their damaged houses would be rebuilt and businesses restored after their return.