Show me the money: NWA IDPs demand arrears from govt

Say provincial administration alone owes over Rs5 billion

PESHAWAR: The displaced population from North Waziristan slammed the federal and provincial governments for failing to provide their arrears.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, members of an all-parties political alliance told the media that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak announced they would provide Rs3,000 as rent allowance for each family.

They said despite the promises, rent had only been provided for two months while the amount for 17 months was still pending. The tribespeople demanded the amount be paid immediately otherwise they would take to the streets.

The displaced families said the total arrears by the provincial government to tribespeople were over Rs5.25 billion.

The alliance’s members also said a number of non-customs paid vehicles were confiscated despite being allowed by authorities for the IDPs. They demanded the vehicles should be released immediately.

The alliance, which included members from various political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI, also asked the federal government to release four installments (Rs48,000) at once.

They demanded that Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, the general officer commanding (GOC) of North Waziristan and Peshawar Corps Commander put a stop to the bulldozing and auctioning of markets and houses in Mirali and Miran Shah.

The alliance members said the political administration collected between Rs12,000 and Rs15,000 as route permit tax, which needed to stop altogether.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.