Collateral damage: Displacement crisis should not be politicised, says Governor Mehtab Khan

Adds prime minister has instructed the government to upgrade hospitals in Bannu.

CHARSADDA: Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan has pressed the federal government to take care of the internally displaced persons (IDP) without engaging in any kind of political point scoring.

Speaking to the media after the inauguration of a health rehabilitation centre in Charsadda, Mehtab said over two million IDPs have left their homes for the nation and it is the government’s responsibility to protect them.

According to the governor, the prime minister had instructed the provincial government to upgrade hospitals in Bannu to cater to the medical needs of the displaced population. He added the prime minister had issued strict orders to military officials to supervise these hospitals.

The federal government has released billion of rupees in funds and given ration to IDPs through the military, said the governor. “However, it is [also] the responsibility of NGOs to help them,” he added.



According to Mehtab, the rehabilitation of IDPs poses a major challenge for the government.

“Our army is fighting a war against militancy in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and we should extend support to them,” he said. “The army’s success should not be sabotaged through political differences as the state cannot tolerate further clashes on national issues.”

The governor pledged his commitment to eliminate all forms of militancy from the country. “We have no option but to fight the militants and we have to eliminate them without any discrimination,” he said.

To a question, Mehtab denied the presence of ISIS in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. He added that the government would not remain silent and react to any threats from external militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2014.