Call to send NWA IDPs back home before Ramazan

PESHAWAR: The alliance of the political parties in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Wednesday urged the government to expedite the return of the displaced tribes and ensure completion of the rehabilitation process before Ramazan.

Speaking at a press conference here, chairman of the alliance, Malik Akbar Khan said that the security forces had been making tall claims about clearing North Waziristan. However, he said the government was showing lethargy in the rehabilitation process.

He demanded the government to ensure provision of basic facilities to the affected tribal people before their return to native towns. The educational institutions and hospitals should be reopened and staff and facilities made available there, he added.

The tribesman asked the government to conduct proper survey of the damages caused during the prolonged military operation and substantial compensation should be given to the affected people.

Malik Akbar Khan, who represents the Qaumi Watan Party, said all educational institutions and healthcare centres were still closed in the agency. Potable water is also not available in most of the areas and the people are facing severe problems in movement due to enhanced checking by the security forces, he complained.

Awami National Party’s, Nisar Ali Khan, Hafiz Farhad Ali of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Malik Ghulam Khan of Pakistan People’s Party, Noor Payo Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami and Gul Nadir Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were also present on the occasion.

Malik Akbar asked the government to stop displacement of the people in the name of operations and ensure early rehabilitation of the people, who have been displaced already. He urged Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to ensure early payment of the financial assistance of Rs48,000 per family.

He also demanded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan to ensure payment of the Rs12 billion, which, he said, was announced by provincial government for the internally displaced persons.The tribesman demanded 80 percent quota in jobs for local educated youth and special quota for the displaced students in all universities and professional colleges.

Our correspondent in Miranshah adds: The government after a long break again resumed the return process of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and sent 209 families to native areas on Wednesday.

The Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) officials said 209 families, comprising 771 individuals, were sent back to Mohammadkhel village, located to the west of North Waziristan’s headquarters Miranshah.

They had left homes in June 2014 when the government launched a massive military offensive, Zarb-e-Azb, against the local and foreign militant organisations in North Waziristan.The slow process of return has frustrated the displaced tribespeople living away from homes and villages for the past two years.

They want the government to make arrangements for their return and also ensure them basic facilities of life available to them before launch of the military operation.