Allow IDPs to return to cleared areas: Grand Tribal Jirga
Defence Minister says return of IDPs priority for govt too, but apprehensions over military operation are unwarranted
ISLAMABAD:
A grand tribal jirga in Islamabad on Saturday demanded that the government repatriate those internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose areas have been cleared of militants during the Zarb-e-Azb military operation in North Waziristan.
The Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) sponsored jirga was attended by tribal elders, IDPs and a number of political parties from Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa, except for the incumbent Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
At the end of the jirga, an eight-point joint communiqué was released which demanded that the government immediately repatriate IDPs. The joint communiqué further urged the government and the military to conclude the ongoing operation in the tribal areas soon so that the IDPs can return to their homes and resume rehabilitation activities.
The jirga also sought a comprehensive assistance package for those who had died or sustained injuries during the operation.
They further demanded that the government take concrete steps for establishing educational institutions and industrial zones in the federally administered tribal areas (Fata) to enhance the socio-economic condition of the tribal people in addition to steps for further strengthening the jirga system in FATA.
Talking to the media, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the war imposed on the tribal areas was not theirs, rather it was needed for others.
“I want to tell the world and our nation that we did not need this war, neither is it our war,” the JUI-F chief said, adding that the tribal people are always in the line of fire due to an imposed proxy war.
Earlier, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan told members of the jirga said that IDPs were facing grave issues but neither the federal government nor the provincial government in K-P was interested in addressing them.
He also took a swipe at Imran Khan and the PTI, saying that when the IDPs started to flee the affected areas, an artificial drama was staged at D-chowk to divert the attention of the people. His views were echoed by Qaumi Wattan Party chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.
“If you will try to push them to the wall, then they will never surrender till the last moment,” Wali noted. He added that any future decision about the IDPs should be made by taking them into confidence.
A representative of the IDPs, Malik Marjan, said that the tribal people were not terrorists, rather, they were peaceful and law abiding citizens. He pointed out that the tribal people lack access to education and health facilities.
Marjan asked that since the military claims 90 per cent of the area has been cleared of militants, then why are the IDPs not allowed to return to those areas?
He complained that IDPs are facing numerous issues in camps, but lamented that even their parliamentarians are not raising their voice for them.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that people of Fata should be given a separate province with their own governor along with the right of ‘one man one vote’ to bring them in to the mainstream.
Apprehensions over success of Zarb-e-Azb unwarranted
Reacting to the grand tribal jirga’s demands, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said that early return of IDPs was also a priority for the government and all available resources are being employed in that regard.
According to a statement, Asif said that elimination of terrorism is the main concern of the government and regulations in Aid of Civil Power in Fata are a step in that direction.
He however was averse to doubts being raised on the success of the operation.
The defence minister said that any apprehensions regarding success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb are unwarranted.
He reiterated that the armed forces were fighting terrorists of all hues and coulor in North Waziristan and elsewhere in Fata and have achieved unparalleled success, albeit at a very heavy cost.
Thus, any doubts being raised by a select few about the number of terrorist killed are mischievous and undermine efforts.
A grand tribal jirga in Islamabad on Saturday demanded that the government repatriate those internally displaced persons (IDPs) whose areas have been cleared of militants during the Zarb-e-Azb military operation in North Waziristan.
The Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) sponsored jirga was attended by tribal elders, IDPs and a number of political parties from Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa, except for the incumbent Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
At the end of the jirga, an eight-point joint communiqué was released which demanded that the government immediately repatriate IDPs. The joint communiqué further urged the government and the military to conclude the ongoing operation in the tribal areas soon so that the IDPs can return to their homes and resume rehabilitation activities.
The jirga also sought a comprehensive assistance package for those who had died or sustained injuries during the operation.
They further demanded that the government take concrete steps for establishing educational institutions and industrial zones in the federally administered tribal areas (Fata) to enhance the socio-economic condition of the tribal people in addition to steps for further strengthening the jirga system in FATA.
Talking to the media, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the war imposed on the tribal areas was not theirs, rather it was needed for others.
“I want to tell the world and our nation that we did not need this war, neither is it our war,” the JUI-F chief said, adding that the tribal people are always in the line of fire due to an imposed proxy war.
Earlier, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan told members of the jirga said that IDPs were facing grave issues but neither the federal government nor the provincial government in K-P was interested in addressing them.
He also took a swipe at Imran Khan and the PTI, saying that when the IDPs started to flee the affected areas, an artificial drama was staged at D-chowk to divert the attention of the people. His views were echoed by Qaumi Wattan Party chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.
“If you will try to push them to the wall, then they will never surrender till the last moment,” Wali noted. He added that any future decision about the IDPs should be made by taking them into confidence.
A representative of the IDPs, Malik Marjan, said that the tribal people were not terrorists, rather, they were peaceful and law abiding citizens. He pointed out that the tribal people lack access to education and health facilities.
Marjan asked that since the military claims 90 per cent of the area has been cleared of militants, then why are the IDPs not allowed to return to those areas?
He complained that IDPs are facing numerous issues in camps, but lamented that even their parliamentarians are not raising their voice for them.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that people of Fata should be given a separate province with their own governor along with the right of ‘one man one vote’ to bring them in to the mainstream.
Apprehensions over success of Zarb-e-Azb unwarranted
Reacting to the grand tribal jirga’s demands, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said that early return of IDPs was also a priority for the government and all available resources are being employed in that regard.
According to a statement, Asif said that elimination of terrorism is the main concern of the government and regulations in Aid of Civil Power in Fata are a step in that direction.
He however was averse to doubts being raised on the success of the operation.
The defence minister said that any apprehensions regarding success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb are unwarranted.
He reiterated that the armed forces were fighting terrorists of all hues and coulor in North Waziristan and elsewhere in Fata and have achieved unparalleled success, albeit at a very heavy cost.
Thus, any doubts being raised by a select few about the number of terrorist killed are mischievous and undermine efforts.