Tirah sit-in reaches 150-day milestone

Displaced families demand dignified return as officials pin hopes on July 10 jirga

BARA:

The sit-in by people displaced from Tirah Valley entered its 150th day on Sunday as protesters continued their demonstration outside the Bara Press Club, pressing the government for immediate steps to ensure their dignified return and rehabilitation.

Leaders of the Tirah Affectees Movement, including Chairman Rahmat Shah Afridi, spokesman Sohbat Khan Afridi, and Minhaj Afridi, told The Express Tribune that the displaced families are facing severe hardships in Peshawar and other areas, particularly in securing registration, shelter, and relief assistance. Families of those killed or injured during the displacement have also not received full compensation so far.

The leaders demanded that the government ensure honourable registration of all affectees, make public the details of agreements signed during the evacuation, immediately release announced aid packages, establish sustainable peace in the affected areas, and involve local populations in development projects. They also called for special relief packages for traders, private educational institutions, teachers and students, compensation for losses, interest-free loans, protection of markets and shops, reconstruction of private schools, and free education facilities for affected students. The protesters warned that if a clear action plan for their dignified return and rehabilitation is not announced within two months, the protest movement will be expanded further.

On the other hand, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) leader and member of the 24-member Tirah Valley committee, Izzatullah Humayun Afridi, said the committee is maintaining continuous contact with government and military leadership through jirgas to resolve the issue.

He expressed hope that an important announcement regarding the return of affectees could be made during the expected jirga on July 10. Afridi said the two core demands, dignified return and disbursement of announced financial assistance, are under active consideration.

He announced that a special verification centre would soon be established in Bara for those left out of the registration process, where verified individuals would be issued SIM cards to facilitate financial support.

The 24-member committee has submitted 37 demands to the government, including details of development projects, compensation for surveyed damage to houses, and restoration of basic infrastructure. However, Afridi admitted that the pace of implementation has not been satisfactory.

He also cautioned affectees against certain elements who are allegedly collecting money from them in the name of securing aid or approvals. "The relief funds belong to the affectees as their right. No one should pay any individual or group," he stressed.

The displacement has severely disrupted education in the valley. According to the Khyber Education Department, 22 government schools were operational in Tirah with 3,240 enrolled students. Additionally, around 5,500 children were out of school, including 3,000 girls and 2,500 boys.

At least 19 private educational institutions, 10 high, seven middle, and two primary schools, were also active, catering to approximately 9,500 students. A large number of these students have not yet resumed their education after displacement.

Sub-Divisional Education Officer (Female) Bara, Shakeela Afridi, said 270 affected girl students from Tirah have been admitted to various government schools in the Bara circle, including Government Girls Primary School Karigar Garhi, Akhtar Shah Bara, and Sher Badshah Kali. The department is taking further steps to compensate for their academic losses.

Provincial Assembly member and DDAC Chairman for Khyber district, Abdul Ghani Afridi, said the affectees are our own people and he is fully aware of their problems.