Future in peril: Uthmanzai tribesmen in quandary over repatriation

Worry govt expects them to form security militias in exchange for going home.


Zulfiqar Ali December 11, 2014

DI KHAN: A Grand Jirga of the Uthmanzai tribe has yet to convene a meeting to deliberate the government’s strategy to repatriate the displaced population.

Earlier, on Sunday, the army gave a go-ahead to civilian authorities to start the phased return of internally displaced persons (IDP) back to North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

Although the decision has been taken as a step in the right direction, it has also raised concern about how the government will implement this strategy. Moreover, a large number of IDPs have also voiced reservations about returning to North Waziristan where their future seems rather bleak and tribesmen worry they will have to form security militias.

The tribe’s concerns were amplified by a statement issued on Tuesday by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Adviser Amir Muqam. According to Muqam, the government may impose conditions on the tribe’s repatriation and expect them to take on a security responsibility in the region.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Haji Sher Muhammad, the grandson of Faqir of Ipi and leader of the Grand Jirga, insisted that the government, military and tribal elders should join hands and chalk out a plan to repatriate IDPs.



“The displaced families want a safe and dignified return and repatriation to their homes,” said Muhammad. “Before the IDPs are sent back, the tribe should be taken into confidence about government’s plans for their repatriation.”

According to Muhammad, it is difficult to rely on the government’s claims as they have made similar promises in the past but seldom kept them.

“Since 2009, the Mehsud tribe, which was displaced in Operation Rah-e-Najat, has not been sent back,” he added. “We do not expect our tribe to be repatriated so soon.”

The way forward?

According to Liaquat Ali, press secretary of Qaumi Committee Barai Muthaseeran North Waziristan, a meeting of the NWA Grand Jirga was held in Bannu on Tuesday. During the meeting, tribal elders urged the government to clarify the nature of the security responsibility the tribe is expected to fulfil.

“We fear the government might expect us to form peace committees,” he said. “At this stage, we just want to be repatriated to safer areas and expect compensation.”

There is no justification for peace committees if security forces are present in the region, said the press secretary.

“We don’t want to find ourselves in a similar situation as peace committees members in Swat,” he added. According to Ali, this is likely to delay the process of repatriation.

He added until amendments to Frontier Crime Regulation’s clauses on territorial and collective responsibility are finalised, the IDPs repatriation seems like a long shot.

Nevertheless, the tribe has also voiced optimism over the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb as they would no longer face threats from the Taliban.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2014.

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