Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday assured tribal elders of merged district Khyber that their issues, including the dignified return of Tirah displaced families, compensation payments and development needs of tribal districts, would be taken up with the relevant authorities on priority basis.
The assurance came during a meeting between the Governor and a grand tribal jirga comprising elders from Khyber district at Governor House. The jirga, led by former federal minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi, included elders belonging to Kokikhel, Akakhel, Qambarkhel and other Afridi tribes. The jirga members informed the Governor in detail about the problems being faced by local people, particularly the law and order situation, return of Tirah displaced persons, payment of compensation and issues relating to the Benazir Income Support Programme.
The tribal elders said nearly 32,000 registered families had been displaced from Tirah Valley due to military operations and despite the passage of over one month from the announced timeline the repatriation process had yet to begin. They urged the Governor to play his role in ensuring the dignified return of the affected families. The jirga also requested early release of compensation to the affected families and allocation of development funds for tribal areas. Chairman of Red Crescent Merged Districts Imran Wazir Advocate was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Kundi said joint efforts would be made for resolution of the issues being faced by tribal people. He said tribal districts had been promised Rs100 billion annually, but unfortunately the deprivation of tribal people and development needs of the merged districts had not been addressed adequately.
The Governor said he had already directed the Red Crescent Merged Districts to provide assistance to Tirah affected families so that relief could reach deserving households. He added that matters related to the dignified return of displaced families, payment of compensation and issues concerning the Benazir Income Support Programme would be raised with the concerned authorities for prompt resolution.