Around 80 displaced families vacated schools before academic year resumed

IDPs have now pitched tents on land provided by locals in Bannu, but lack the most basic facilities.

PESHAWAR/ BANNU:

Paving way for education, 80 displaced families from North Waziristan, seeking temporary shelter at schools in Bannu, voluntarily vacated campuses before the academic year resumed on September 1, after summer vacations.

However, had it not been for the kindness of locals, they would have had nowhere to go.

“The people of Bannu rendered tremendous sacrifices for us and let us into their homes. Now they have given a vast piece of land where we have pitched our tents [after vacating the schools],” said Khalid Khan, a displaced person.

The property was provided by the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe and is located on Bannu-Bezankhel Link Road. However, the new location lacks electricity and most other basic facilities.

Khalid slammed the government for not making any alternate arrangements for the displaced families. He said the government needs to take immediate notice of their difficulties.

Sultan Khan, another displaced person, confirmed families left the schools to allow students to resume their education after summer vacation ended.

Shahzeb Khan Dawar, also a resident of the camp, said the tents alone were not sufficient to cater to their needs, but added the displaced people would never forget the support extended by Bannu residents.

In protest

Meanwhile, internally displaced people from militancy-hit Khyber Agency protested outside the Governor House in Peshawar on Monday, demanding the federal government provide facilities at their camps.

The displaced people have been protesting outside Cantonment Railway Station for the past four weeks, but their appeals seem to be falling on deaf ears. On Monday, they gathered in large numbers and decided to march to the Governor House to press authorities to address their issues.

According to the FDMA, a total of 103,207 people displaced from Khyber Agency are registered at Jalozai, New Durrani and other camps, and only 26,995 have returned home thus far.

Led by Iqbal Afridi, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader from Khyber Agency, the IDPs held black flags and placards inscribed with slogans against the governor and political administration for leaving them without adequate facilities at camps.

“We did not leave home of our own free will. We were ordered to do so by the government,” said Iqbal Afridi. He added their protest would continue till their demands were met.

During the march towards Governor House, Sher Shah Suri Road was blocked, disrupting the flow of traffic and causing gridlocks. Although vehicles were diverted to other roads, chaos persisted.

“People displaced from Khyber Agency are being provided relief packages of Rs25,000, while those from North Waziristan are getting over Rs50,000,” claimed Ramazan Afridi. “Is this not an injustice to the people of Khyber Agency?”

Ramazan said they should be allowed to go back to their homes and restore peace. “We are demanding our rights from the government,” said 50-year-old Haji Namdar. “Our houses and cultivable lands have been ruined and now we are living on scorpion-infested grounds in battered tents.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.