Phased return of Tirah families to begin from October 10

PESHAWAR: A high-level jirga has agreed to start the phased return of displaced families from Tirah Valley on October 10, following consultations involving senior military and civil officials and a 24-member advisory committee.

Participants in the jirga agreed that the return would be carried out in a dignified manner and that the security situation in Tirah Valley would be fully stabilised before the process begins. They also decided that the committee’s 37-point demands would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The meeting included elders from the 24-member committee, senior military officials, the district administration and representatives of relevant departments. Development projects already under way in the valley will continue without interruption, while concerns raised by the committee are to be addressed on a priority basis to avoid hurdles in the repatriation process.

During the discussions, the committee highlighted problems being faced by some verified affectees. Officials took notice of those issues, assured the participants of their resolution and settled several matters on the spot.

Verification and assistance continue

Registration and verification of Tirah affectees listed in the GRC is continuing at the NADRA centre set up in Haji Market, Bara. After verification, eligible individuals are being issued SIM cards.

The district administration said financial assistance is also being disbursed. More than 20,000 affectees have so far received financial aid, while payments to the remaining eligible people are under process.

Lists of over 4,000 affectees have been issued at Haji Market. Nearly 3,000 of them have been verified, while verification of the remaining individuals is continuing.

Protest camp seeks formal notification

Despite the jirga’s decision, Tehreek Mutasireen Tirah has voiced concern over the absence of an official announcement. Its spokesman Sohbat Khan Afridi said affectees have been holding a sit-in outside Bara Press Club for the past 170 days and that no formal notification has yet been issued by the government or the jirga.

Afridi said families remain uncertain despite talk of a return from October 10. He warned that snowfall begins in Tirah Valley with the onset of winter, making resettlement more difficult, and urged the government to issue a formal schedule without delay.

He also demanded that the agreement reached at the time of displacement, along with the points finalised with the 24-member committee, be made public so affectees are fully aware of their rights and the government’s obligations.