Going home: 26 more families return to SWA, total passes 300

Repatriation of IDPs of Mehsud dominated areas continued to South Waziristan as 26 more families reached home.

WANA: The repatriation of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) of Mehsud dominated areas continued to South Waziristan as 26 more families reached homes here on Sunday. Official sources said on Sunday that repatriation of dislocated people have gained momentum and till now about 300 families have returned home under tight security arrangements. On Sunday, he said that 26 more families returned home.

The FATA Health Department has established mobile hospitals and posted doctors in South Waziristan Agency to help mitigate sufferings of ailing tribesmen. The government will also provide Rs 25,000 and six months rations to each dislocated family.

The government is also providing free transportation to IDPs. The IDPs of Spinkai Ragzai, Murgi Band, Jang Malai, Ganara, Katori and Nawai Kuch villages reached home.

The IDPs raised slogans of Pak Army and Pakistan Zindabad upon arrival in Jandola. They had left their areas after Taliban militants had made their lives miserable. The army was moved to South Waziristan Agency to establish government writ there and free tribesmen from militants.

Two Mehsud IDPs, Dawar Khan Mehsud and Gul Badshah Wazir said that they are very happy to return home and militants would not be allowed to regroup again and destroy the peace established after great sacrifices by army and tribesmen. They underlined the need for restoration of infrastructure and civil facilities with special focus on rebuilding destroyed schools, roads and hospitals.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2010.