Looking for a way back: Marching to their own drumbeat, IDPs set deadline

Threaten to block Indus Highway if not sent home on time.

BANNU:

Internally displaced persons (IDP) from North Waziristan protested on Wednesday in Bannu, urging the government to repatriate them and at the very least provide them with basic amenities while they were away from home.

Since Operation Zarb-e-Azb started in June, residents from the agency have been forced to live under harsh conditions in IDP camps and with host communities.

Starting the protest with a traditional dance, protesters marched to drumbeats from Melad Park to Kurram Bridge. A large number of students from North Waziristan also joined the protests.

Traffic remained suspended for over two hours on Bannu Kohat Road and Kurram Bridge. Commuters in the city were forced to wait in long queues or find alternative routes.

Looking for support

Clashes erupted between the protesters and police when IDPs allegedly tried to force people working inside the relief camps to join their protest.

Another scuffle broke out when protesters reached Ziyad Durrani Sports Complex and asked IDPs standing in queues for ration to participate in the protests.

The shed made for the IDPs was uprooted and the police resorted to aerial fire to break up the fight.

X marks the calendar

Protesters have earmarked September 15 as the deadline by which the government should accept their demands. If the government does not adopt a responsible approach to the matter and fails to repatriate IDPs, they will block  Indus Highway, threatened the demonstrators.

Sans amenities

Mir Kalam Khan—a participant at the protest—told those gathered that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had claimed that 80% of North Waziristan had been cleared of militants. Yet IDPs were forced to stay in K-P where the government had failed to provide the displaced population with basic amenities.

“The government needs to take steps to provide edibles to those still stranded in the agency,” said another protester, Raheemullah.

Ziaullah Khan said they will continue to protest in a peaceful manner. He added human rights organisations need to come forward to assist the government in addressing their difficulties.

Waqar Khan, who also participated in Wednesday’s rally, said the government should arrange for the immediate return of the displaced population to their homes. If no action is taken by September 15, the IDPs will continue their protests, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2014.