HANGU:
A large number of internally-displaced persons based in Hangu, Kohat and other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) demanded on Tuesday that the government repatriate them to Orakzai Agency.
During a jirga, elders of Mula Khel tribe urged the agency’s political agent to expedite the repatriation process of over 30,000 tribesmen to their homes once the security forces have cleared the areas from militants.
A tribal elder and former federal minister, Ghazi Gulab Jamal, said the government should provide assistance to the IDPs in this regard. While talking to The Express Tribune, another tribal elder Malik Haji Zar Muhammad said that during the meeting, the tribal heads appealed to the government to repatriate them without delay as they have been homeless for the last four years. He added that during the last two years, when the first phase of repatriation started, foreign NGOs and the government stopped their aid.
“If the government has not decided on whether we should return, they should provide us with necessary ration and assistance,” he said. Otherwise, the IDPs will protest and march towards the provincial assembly, he added.
When contacted, the political agent of the agency, Khushal Khan, said he had forwarded their demands to the governor and the commissioner. However, he said the process would take time. “The repatriation of one family needs a lot of arrangements, let alone the repatriation of 30,000 individuals. There is a proper procedure and the government will arrange for the IDP,” he added
A majority of the Mula Khel tribe living in Dabori locality of the agency were forced to abandon their homes when security forces launched an operation against militants in 2008. Earlier on, over 150,000 people relocated to Togh Sarai camp of Jungle Khel or their relatives in other areas.
The first phase of repatriation started in the lower parts of the agency in 2010 and ended in 2011. However, over 30,000 tribesmen of Mada Khel are still living as IDPs in camps as their hometown Dabori is under the control of militants, while security forces are engaged in restoring peace in the area.
In August, the government announced that they have cleared the area from militants and peace has been restored after which the tribesmen of Mula Khel pressed the government to let them return into their native areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2012.
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