Displaced people from Pakistan’s Tirah Valley doubt return plan — Dawn
Internally displaced families from the Tirah Valley in Pakistan’s Khyber district are sceptical about an orally announced return plan that is expected to begin on October 10. As Dawn reports, displaced people in Bara said that the provincial authorities and the Khyber district administration have not yet issued an official notification, and that they have seen no practical preparations for their return.
Returns of 50 families at a time
According to the displaced people, the oral announcement provides for 50 families per day to return to their homes in the Tirah Valley starting on October 10. At the same time, they say that no registration centre has been set up and no transport has been arranged.
Nearly 27,000 families are registered as displaced from various parts of Tirah. One of Dawn’s interlocutors noted that at a rate of 50 families a day, the process could take about a year and a half.
Suhbat Khan, spokesperson for Tehreek-i-Mutasreen Tirah, said that these families belong to six major Tirah tribes, each of which is divided into 30 sub-tribes. In his assessment, if the plan is implemented, an average of about eight families from each major tribe will return daily, and the sub-tribes will have to determine the order.
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Claims of insufficient assistance
Gul Zarin, a resident of Bagh-Maidan who is currently staying in Bara with relatives, said that displaced people had not received the promised cash and other assistance. According to him, during the 110-kilometre journey through snow and rain, many children, women and elderly people became seriously ill because of the bad weather.
Another Tirah resident, Haji Zarif, said that displaced people reserve the right to seek compensation for damaged housing. He also raised the issue of what he described as the illegal occupation of agricultural land during the families’ absence and excessive deforestation.
More than 400 families without registration
A delegation of Sipah tribal elders from the areas of Sanda-Pal, Drai-Naghari, Drowta and Khapur met with the commander of the 27th Brigade in Tirah Maidan to discuss the registration and return of more than 400 families. According to Dawn, the elders said these people were asked to leave their homes in November 2023 because of a limited targeted military operation, with a promise that they would be allowed to return within a maximum of 15 days.
According to the delegation, nearly three years later, these families are still not registered and are not receiving official assistance. Delegation members added that the brigade commander did not object to their return and advised them to contact the district administration regarding possible support.
