Bar Qamber Khel tribesmen started vacating their houses after March 19 when the valley fell in the hands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam. PHOTO: IRIN/FILE
A Grand Jirga was held by Bar Qamber Khel tribe from Khyber Agency to devise plans for the repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) after the military operation in Tirah Valley. This was done under the supervision of former MNA Hameedullah Jan in Bagh-e-Naran in the city on Sunday.
The three major sub-clans of Bar Qamber Khel – Dare Plaray, Wanda Garay, Khujal Khel – convened in Hayatabad to discuss the safe repatriation of IDPs and formed a new peace committee comprising Qamber Khel tribesmen.
Haji Shoukat, a Dare Plaray tribesman explained around 100 tribal elders from three tribes convened the jirga. “Once they settle back in their areas, the tribes would not be connected to any banned outfit and will remain impartial,” he added.
Menak Haji, from Wanda Garay said three committees of 15 tribesmen from each clan were created at the jirga. The 15-member committees would visit Tirah Valley before the IDPs are resettled. The committees would then inform security forces about their repatriation to specific areas and would assist the displaced people in their return home.
Khujal Khel elders, Haji Gulab and Haji Nazir had initially decided to withdraw from the jirga. Before the military operation, Khujal Khel was the only clan impartial towards both security forces and the militants. After the announcement of the new peace committee, the clan decided to join hands with Wanday Garay and Dare Plaray with hopes the committee would be neutral.
The committee would also survey and record the destruction of infrastructure in the valley and calculate the finances needed by tribesmen to resettle. They would present these figures to Hameedullah Jan, who will in turn forward these to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shaukatullah Khan and relevant authorities.
The jirga decided the new committee would just help solve local disputes that are new, claiming they have resolved all old ones. Those involved in assisting the government against militants or militants against the government would not be part of the committee. The peace committee would take action against elements showing signs of partiality.
Bar Qamber Khel tribesmen started vacating their houses after March 19 when the valley fell in the hands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam (a banned outfit led by Mangal Bagh after clashes with another banned organisation Ansarul Islam). On April 05, security forces launched an operation against militants and on June 20, forces claimed to have cleared Tirah Valley from militant elements.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2013.
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