Nowhere to go: IDPs resist move to evacuate schools

BANNU:

Displaced persons from North Waziristan living in government schools in Bannu have opposed the government’s move to shift them to camps.

Protesting outside the Bannu Press Club on Monday, elders of various tribes criticised the government for not having an alternate plan for their accommodation.

“We shifted to schools peacefully and did not break the locks of any schools,” said Shahzeb Dawar, alleging the district administration has now resorted to threats. “We cannot afford to live in rented houses as every house owner demands Rs200,000-300,000 as guarantee.” He added they cannot live in camps due to social and cultural restrictions.

Summer vacations in the province have come to an end, and schools need to be vacated to accommodate the students.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2014.