PESHAWAR: Under the supervision of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, a Grand Peace Jirga held in Khyber categorically rejected claims that residents of Tirah had left their homes voluntarily.
It made it clear that the locals were forcibly displaced amid worsening security conditions.
Participants of the Jirga, including tribal elders, local representatives and affected families, said the displacement was imposed on them and caused severe humanitarian hardships.
They strongly protested what they termed injustice against the people of Tirah and resolved to march towards Islamabad to seek their constitutional and legal rights.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Afridi welcomed the Jirga’s decisions and announced that consultative jirgas would be convened in other tribal districts before moving towards the federal capital.
He said a joint Grand Jirga of all tribal districts would later finalize the future course of action, adding that decisions taken behind closed doors would not be accepted.
The chief minister said the law and order situation in the province had improved between 2018 and 2022, but deteriorated following the removal of the elected government of Imran Khan.
He claimed warnings about the resurgence of terrorism were ignored, allowing militants to reach villages and homes, leaving residents with no option but to flee.
He criticized drone strikes and alleged that innocent civilians were martyred and portrayed as militants, while peaceful protesters were fired upon to justify a military operation in Tirah despite heavy snowfall.
Afridi rejected impressions regarding the allocation of Rs 4 billion for Tirah affectees, saying it was the federal government’s constitutional responsibility, which the province was fulfilling from its own resources. He said over Rs 7 billion had already been paid by the province, while Rs 52 billion in IDP dues and Rs 4,758 billion remained outstanding from the federation.
He announced the establishment of a Chief Minister Relief Account and condemned terrorist incidents in Balochistan.
