Tribesmen from volatile tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency demanded the government to ensure voluntarily return of internally displaced persons in their respective hometown in the tribal agency, besides a comprehensive compensation package for them. The demand was made during a tribal jirga, convened by Tehreek-i-Haqooq-e-Bara, a movement for rights of Bara IDPs, attending by elders, traders, lawyers, ulema and students from Bara, Khyber Agency, held at press club here on Saturday.
Besides, tribal elders from seven-clan of the Bara of restive Khyber Agency, leader of Khyber Union, a welfare body, Haris Afridi, president Sohbat Khan, elder from Malik Din Khel tribe, Malik Muhammad Hussain, Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Khyber Agency Ikhtiyar Badshah, general secretary Muhammad Rafiq, and Shah Jehan Afridi, also attended the jirga.
Shah Faisal Afridi, while chairing the tribal jirga, regretted that government didn't take notice of treatment, carried out against people of Bara, since last six years. He added the education, heath and business activities have been completely shattered during the period. He maintained that a large number of students have been deprived from education facilities, owing to huge mass displacement from tehsil Bara, in wake of security force action in the tribal agency.
"Tribesmen are patriot citizen of the country, which had rendered numerous sacrifices for protection of borders region, so the mistreatment must be stopped against them, says Malik Hussain from Malikdin khel of the agency. He said the force policy, wasn't remaining fruitful, and asked that all issues should be resolved by negotiation and peaceful manner.
Maulana Shoaib, another tribal elder while talking about agony of tribesmen said the Bara has been turned in rubble due to excessive military operations in the tribal agency. "We own lost business, and destroyed houses, bazaars, roads and other infrastructure during last six year. Our children have been deprived from education facility", he lamented.
Shah Faisal, who is also Jamaat-e-Islam deputy general secretary from Fata, criticised that tribesmen were deliberately kept backwards in all field of life, despite sincerity and honest with their motherland. He furthermore said the both provincial and federal governments completely failed to mitigate suffering of internally displaced persons from tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency.
"They (IDPs) have not been provided adequate facilities at their makeshift camp, despite highlighting their issues and problems several occasions, he regretted. He said it was dire need of hour to extend a comprehensive compensation package from Bara IDPs, like provided to militancy-affected people from Malakand division. He demanded to give Rs 50000 as cash and Rs 12000 daily allowance to each affected IDPs from Bara Khyber Agency.
Expressing voice concern over distribution of sub-standard food among IDPs, Afridi suggested instead of food distribution, the government should provide cash amount through Automatic Trailers Machine (ATM), to end corruption in the assistance. He said the increasing chill weather has been multiplied miseries of IDPs, so a winter-package should be announced for them. He demanded the authorities to accommodate internally displaced families, affected by fresh launch of security force action Khyber One Operation in Bara, Khyber Agency. A compensation package should also announce for rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the tribal agency, he demanded.
He further asked the government to make arrangements for accommodation and hostel facility for IDPs students of Grade IX and X, while keeping in view the metric examination, scheduled in March this year. The government, he demanded, should ensure voluntarily return of IDPs in their respective areas in the tribal agency. It also demanded a comprehensive package needed to be announced for revival of business activities in Bara, Khyber Agency.
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