Tribal elders of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) have expressed serious concern over the delay in rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and warned to march on Islamabad if they are not allowed to return homes at the earliest. Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday a group of elders led by Malik Ayub said that 98 percent of people in Miranshah had been returned to hometowns but those belonging to DandiDarpakhelwere yet to get permission for returning their area.
Flanked by Malik Habibullah, Malik Bahadur Khan, Malik Zali Khan, Malik Iqbal, he said that 2400 families were still living in camps in extremely miserable condition but the federal government was least bothered to pay them serious attention.
Malik Ayub said that tokens, meant for return to homes, had been issued to the IDPs about four months ago but they were yet to be allowed to go back. He said that Dandi Darpakhel was one of the peaceful localities in North Waziristan Agency but its people had to suffer the most, mainly due to delay in rehabilitation for unknown reasons. Besides, he alleged that houses and shops were demolished and construction material was taken away. He urged government to stop demolishing of their houses, shopping markets and announce schedule for rehabilitation of the IDPs without any further delay.
The government, he said should also ensure enlisting of the displaced families in the ongoing census. He also stressed the need that government should announce a comprehensive developmental and financial package for the affected families so that they could rebuild their houses, shopping markets to revive business activities.
The other tribal elders also complained that government had assured to protect all belongings of the people on vacating houses but it did not fulfil its commitment and demolished their houses in violation of the promise.
They also urged government to order probe into the cases pertaining to destruction of houses, shops and taking away belongings of the IDPs by unknown people. "If government failed to accept our demands we will march on Islamabad and also appeal to United Nations for seeking justice," they said.
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