Daily Times

BARA: The political administration of Khyber Agency on Friday announced the starting of registration for the repatriation of 5000 families of five sub tribes of Bara tehsil to their hometowns in the militancy hit Tirah Valley. The registration will start on September 8.

The decision to send back displaced persons of Zakha Khel, Aka Khel, Kamar Khel, Stori Khel and Adam Khel tribes of Bara tehsil was taken at a grand Jirga held at the Khyber House among political administration officials and elders and maliks of these tribes.

Assistant Political Agent Bara tehisl, Muhammad Arif Khan, Khyber Agency Coordinator for FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Ziaur Rehman, Malik Muhammad Amin, Malik Zainullah, Baildar Khan, Yarma Jan and other elders were also in attendance.

Addressing the participants, APA Muhammad Arif Khan formally announced that the registration process of displaced persons would start on September 8 and similarly 2235 families of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Zaoddin clan of Zakha Khel will return to their homes by September 12.

However, the tribesmen of Zakha Khel tribe would have their registration done at Mian Gano Khwar while 1800 dislocated persons of Stori Khel and Adam Khel tribes would approach the Levy Center for registration, he added.

The elders of the tribes and assistant political agent Bara tehsil, Muhammad Arif Khan, agreed on a formula according to which the registration of 600 families would be made on a daily basis.

The displaced families had left their homes when a military operation was under way and now they are going back to their homes after eight years.

The return of these tribes triggered a delay because of the Khyber-3 military action carried out in Tirah Valley against the alleged militants. The returned tribesmen would get Rs 25000 cash, Rs 10000 for transportation and ration for six mothers upon repatriation to their hometowns.

Khan further said that tribal elders and maliks should cooperate with the security forces prior to entering their homes and shun differences among each other for the sake of peace and certainty. He also fixed a responsibility on the returning families to keep a vigilant eye on anti-state actors in the area for maintaining long lasting peace. Earlier, elders and other tribesmen of the Jirga apprised the political administration that roads, schools, health centres and other facilities had totally been destroyed by terrorists and the authorities concerned should ensure the provision of these facilities.

They also told the political administration officials that their homes had been destroyed and they should be properly compensated.