No place to call home: Displaced Tirah tribesmen threaten to migrate to Afghanistan if not registered

Out of 1600, the government has so far registered 900 families.

PESHAWAR:

Residents of Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency have told the government to register all those people who were displaced from the valley otherwise they will migrate to Afghanistan.

Tribal Development Network (TDN) President Nizam Dawar said thousands of residents fled to settled areas following intense clashes between militants and the military. However, he added, the provincial, national and Fata disaster management authorities were creating hurdles in registering the internally displaced persons (IDP).

“The government has so far registered roughly 900 families. There are 1,600 families residing in various camps without any registration. Tirah IDPs in Jalozai camp do not even have electricity,” emphasised Dawar at a conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday.

He was flanked by elders of the Kukikhel tribe. “The government needs to nurture an environment where national and international non-governmental organisations can start relief work.”

Dawar asserted whenever the displaced tribesmen visit any of the settled areas, they are harassed by the police under the pretext of security – making it difficult for them to earn a livelihood. The TDN president has given the government three days to start registering the displaced Tirah residents before they start a ‘peaceful strike’.



At a meeting with former political leaders and candidates from NA-46 Bara, Khyber Agency, Tirah IDPs argued since most of them had moved to Peshawar or its outskirts, they should be registered at Jalozai camp instead of Durrani camp in Kurram Agency.

Polling facilities for IDPs

People displaced from their homes due to military operations and militancy will be provided with the opportunity to cast their votes, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter reassured the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

During a suo motu notice hearing on Tuesday, the ECP told the bench that voter verification was underway. The notice was taken on the shortage of basic amenities at Jalozai, a camp for the internally displaced.

The election commission’s representative Talib Hussain informed PHC Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Roohul Amin that currently voters were being verified and the process would be completed by April 25 (tomorrow).

As some of the displaced were residing in rented houses instead of the camps set up for them, the commission is taking time to verify these voters. Hussain added the displaced persons will be offered a chance to vote in the camps and in all other places where the displaced reside.

A small number of NA-39 Orakzai Agency voters have migrated to safer places and the election commission needs to facilitate the remaining tribal residents so they can participate in the elections, contended Hasham Raza, Dr Ghazi Gulab’s counsel. Dr Gulab had petitioned the court for polling facilities in Orakzai.

During the hearing, Provincial Disaster Management Authority Chief Coordinator Faiz Muhammad assured the court that Jalozai Camp was equipped with all necessary facilities for its inhabitants.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2013.