Repatriation: Sherpao turns centre’s attention to economic revival of IDPs

Says all-inclusive strategy must be formulated if crisis is to be resolved.

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao asked the government on Sunday to come up with a comprehensive strategy to repatriate internally displaced persons (IDPs) and repair the damaged infrastructure in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

“It is indeed a huge sacrifice to leave one’s home under such circumstances,” he said while addressing IDPs in Bannu. Sherpao visited the IDP camp and distributed cash among 300 families.

He said the government should work out an all-inclusive plan for the economic revival and rehabilitation of the families. Sherpao said farming was the main source of livelihood of the uprooted tribesmen, so the government should give them incentives to start anew after being sent home.



The QWP chief added the situation would have been different had the government taken all stakeholders into confidence before holding talks with militants. However, he underscored the need to take the ongoing military operation to its logical conclusion.

“No effort should be spared to avoid collateral damage in this offensive,” said Sherpao, lauding the people of NWA and the security forces for making sacrifices to restore peace in Pakistan. “Keeping in view the demands of the tribesmen, the government needs to make a decision about the status of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).”

Sherpao suggested, in the first phase, the Frontier Regions should be merged with the tribal agencies or the settled districts; while in the second phase, Fata should be declared part of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas.

“The British had turned Fata into a buffer zone to serve their own interests,” said Sherpao. “Now we need to decide its future, while keeping in view the interests of the tribesmen. This region has been in turmoil for the past 13 years, and the situation can always take a turn for the worse if corrective steps are not taken.”

About the presidential election in Afghanistan, the QWP chief said all stakeholders, particularly the Afghan people, should accept the outcome of the polls. Otherwise, he added, the prevailing uncertainty could degenerate into a political crisis.

QWP leaders Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, Hashim Babar, Shahjehan Khan, Saidullah Shah, Ghufran Khattak, QWP Kohat chairman Mehmood Islam, QWP Bannu chairman Fareedullah and QWP focal person for IDPs Adnan Wazir were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2014.