Tirah families' return set for October 10

A high-level jirga involving senior military and civil officials and the 24-member advisory com-mittee has agreed to begin the phased and dignified return of families displaced from Tirah Valley from October 10. However, the Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah has expressed reservations, noting that no formal government notification has been issued and demanding an immediate official announcement.

According to committee sources, the jirga was attended by elders of the 24-member committee, senior military officials, the district administration and representatives of relevant departments. Participants agreed that the security situation in Tirah Valley would be fully stabilised before the return process be-gins and that the committee's 37-point demands would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Sources said developmental projects already under way in the valley would continue without interrup-tion. All concerns raised by the committee would be addressed on a priority basis to ensure the return process faces no hurdles. During the meeting, the committee highlighted problems faced by certain veri-fied affectees. Officials took immediate notice, gave assurances of resolution and settled several issues on the spot.

Meanwhile, registration and verification of Tirah affectees listed in the GRC continues at the NADRA cen-tre set up in Haji Market, Bara. After verification, eligible individuals are being issued SIM cards. The dis-trict administration stated that financial assistance is also being disbursed. More than 20,000 affectees have so far received financial aid, with payments to remaining eligible persons under process. Lists of over 4,000 affectees have been issued at Haji Market, of whom nearly 3,000 have been verified while verification of the rest continues.

Sohbat Khan Afridi, spokesman for Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah, told The Express Tribune that affectees have been staging a sit-in outside Bara Press Club for the past 170 days. He said that despite members of the 24-member committee speaking of a return from October 10, no official notification has been issued by the government or the jirga, leaving families in a state of uncertainty.

Afridi noted that snowfall begins in Tirah Valley with the onset of winter, making resettlement more dif-ficult. He urged the government to issue a formal schedule without delay so that families can return in time. He also demanded that the agreement reached at the time of displacement and the points final-ised with the 24-member committee be made public so that affectees are fully aware of their rights and the government's obligations.