Tirah IDPs rehab efforts advance

Authorities assure compensation, damaged-house surveys

KHYBER:

Significant progress has been made towards the dignified return, rehabilitation and protection of the rights of the displaced people of Tirah Valley, with authorities deciding to convene a second high-level meeting soon to address their outstanding demands.

The decision was taken at an important meeting held at Khyber House, attended by representatives of the Khyber district administration, Tirah affectees, Shalobar Qaumi Council and Bara Political Alliance. The participants discussed in detail the return of displaced families, payment of compensation, surveys of damaged houses, employment opportunities, provision of basic facilities and other rehabilitation-related issues.

Deputy Commissioner Khyber Shahid Ali Khan, Naveed Afridi, brother of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Chairman of Tirah Affectees Rehmat Shah Afridi, spokesperson Sohbat Khan, Bara Political Alliance President Hashim Khan and Shalobar Qaumi Council Chairman Lal Nabi Afridi were among those attending the meeting, along with dozens of affectees and political alliance office-bearers.

Speaking on the occasion, Tirah affectees' spokesperson Sohbat Khan and Bara Political Alliance President Hashim Khan presented the demands of the displaced families and highlighted the difficulties they continue to face in connection with their return and rehabilitation.

Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan said the district administration was taking all possible measures to ensure the early return of Tirah affectees in accordance with the points agreed upon in the relevant agreement. He said the administration was working day and night to resolve the problems being faced by the displaced population.

He disclosed that the General Rehabilitation Committee (GRC) process had been completed for 2,300 people, while another 1,200 cases had also been processed. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found collecting money from affectees under any pretext.

The deputy commissioner said a separate committee had been constituted to conduct surveys of houses destroyed in Tirah Valley. Representatives responsible for each village council would be included in the committee, while the formal survey process would begin after the displaced families returned to their areas.

He said special registration would be carried out for orphans, widows and other vulnerable and deserving groups in Tirah so that they could receive their rightful share during the rehabilitation process. The administration would also initiate land compensation proceedings to resolve land-related grievances and provide compensation to eligible affected people.

Shahid Ali Khan further said steps would be taken regarding unnecessary checkposts in Tirah Valley. Problems faced by local residents concerning privacy and restrictions at certain locations would also be addressed. A special package would be provided to the families of martyrs, he added.

Regarding de-notification, the deputy commissioner said the process would be moved forward once the required clearance was received.

He stressed that no compromise would be made on the quality, pace or transparency of development projects in Tirah Valley. The requirement for NOCs for development schemes had been removed, while measures were underway to create employment opportunities for local youth. He added that local young people from Tirah had already been provided jobs in the education sector.

Shalobar Qaumi Council Chairman Lal Nabi Afridi thanked Naveed Afridi for facilitating direct negotiations between a high-level delegation of Tirah affectees and the district administration. He said the initiative had helped bring the affectees' key demands directly before the relevant authorities.

Naveed Afridi also thanked Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan, saying he had directed the concerned institutions to take immediate steps on issues requiring administrative action and had sent letters to relevant departments for resolution of the affectees' problems.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided that a second high-level meeting would be convened soon.