BARA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday held the PTI-led provincial government responsible for the recent large-scale evacuation of residents from Tirah Valley, saying repeated statements about a possible military operation created fear and forced people to leave their homes unnecessarily.
The governor’s remarks came amid a growing row between the federal and provincial governments over who authorised the evacuation of hundreds of families from Tirah in Khyber district, following speculation about an impending security operation against terrorists.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Bara tehsil, where displaced families from Tirah have taken shelter, Kundi said that seasonal migration from the area usually remained around 20 per cent during winter but had surged to 50–60 per cent this year.
“This time, it is 50 to 60 per cent because statements were repeatedly made suggesting that an operation would be conducted in Tirah. As a result, people vacated their homes,” he said. “In my opinion, people are suffering today due to the failure and weakness of the provincial government.”
The governor said the KP government’s “barrage of statements” compelled residents to flee, adding that many realised upon reaching Bara that the situation on the ground did not match the claims made earlier. He noted that unlike past winters, when families stayed with host communities, many displaced people were now forced to live in tent villages.
Kundi stressed that whenever a military operation was planned, it was formally announced and necessary arrangements were made in advance. He also criticised the PTI leadership for politicising security-related issues.
KP Opposition Leader Ibadullah Khan, who accompanied the governor during the visit, said the purpose was to assess the ground situation and listen to the concerns of displaced families. “This is our duty — these are our people,” the PML-N lawmaker said, accusing the provincial leadership of turning every issue into a political contest.
Kundi also extended an olive branch to KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, urging him to engage with the federal government to resolve security and governance challenges. “If they have issues with the Centre, they should form a committee or a jirga. We are ready to accompany them,” he said, lamenting that the PTI was willing to engage with militants but reluctant to sit with the federal or Punjab governments.
Highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in Dera Ismail Khan and the merged districts, the governor said both residents and security personnel were making sacrifices and called for joint efforts with security agencies to restore peace and ensure development.
Separately, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry rejected claims of a fresh military operation in Tirah, accusing the PTI-led KP government of fabricating a narrative to conceal alleged corruption in funds allocated for the relocation of Tirah residents.
In a televised statement, Chaudhry said the provincial government was “using the army’s name to hide its incompetence and corruption” related to the reported Rs4 billion approved for temporary relocation. “No notification or document mentions the federal government or the armed forces in this matter,” he asserted.
The state minister claimed that after the funds were released and questions were raised about their utilisation, a “baseless narrative” was constructed to divert attention. He reiterated that no new operation was currently underway in Tirah Valley.
“Whenever an operation is planned, it is announced officially and all stakeholders are taken onboard,” Chaudhry said, adding that any ongoing security actions across the country were routine intelligence-based operations conducted under the National Action Plan (NAP).
He noted that the NAP had been revised in 2021 under the PTI government and that the KP administration was fully involved in all actions carried out under it. “The provincial government is not just a participant — it is fully responsible for the distribution of the Tirah funds,” he said.
Chaudhry alleged that the Rs4 billion allocation was facing scrutiny similar to past corruption scandals and accused the KP government of attempting to malign state institutions to cover up governance failures.
The exchange has further sharpened political tensions over security policy, governance, and accountability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as displaced families from Tirah continue to await clarity and relief.
