GHALANAI: Elders of Musakhel, Issakhel and Khugakhel tribes, who live along the Pak-Afghan border, have set conditions for return to their respective areas to resettle with honour and dignity.

They were speaking at a jirga held in the agency headquarters, Ghalanai, on Friday. MNA Bilal Rehman, Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir APA Pir Abdullah Shah and heads of line departments were in attendance.

The elders said that all their houses and properties were destroyed during the military operation in the area, but the displaced people were not given the IDP status.

They said the tribesmen were facing difficulties due to lack of basic facilities like drinking water, health and education in Sooran Dara, Sara Khawa, Issa Khel Jarobi Dara, Shandara, Anargai, Salala and Khuga Khel areas.

“We want to return to our areas with respect and according to the tribal customs,” argued an elder, demanding of the government to provide health, education and communication facilities in the affected localities.

They also complained that security forces arrested people randomly whenever a blast occurred in an area which was unfair despite the fact that the elders extended cooperation to the local administration and security forces in the fight against outlaws. They said the forces’ personnel should arrest only the guilty persons.

Malik Haji Baghi Jan Musa Khel said most of Mohmand tribesmen were having businesses in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Faisalabad and other cities, therefore, police and Counter Terrorism Department personnel should not subject them and their children to undue checking.

The tribal elders said their CNICs were blocked without any reason due to which they were facing problems. They demanded of the local MNA to highlight their problems on the floor of the National Assembly and take solid steps for development of border areas.

On the occasion, MNA Malik Bilal Rehman admitted that border areas lacked basic amenities of life like health, education, but said the development works were being executed across the tribal agency without any discrimination.

He said he was trying his best to get the CNICs of Khugakhel and Dawar Khel tribesmen unblocked.

Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir told the jirga that all the problems would be resolved through tribal elders’ cooperation and consultations. He said as the displaced people of Mohmand didn’t go to the IDP camps they were not given the IDP status thus the compensation. He said Mohmand displaced tribesmen lived either in rented houses or with relatives in other cities. However, he said efforts were afoot to compensate all the affected tribesmen.

He directed the assistant political agent of Biazai to form a committee for the return of displaced tribesmen to their areas.

The political agent said that tribesmen should nominate their elders to verify their CNICs and domicile certificates. He assured the tribesmen that all the privileges would be provided to them and they would be treated according to the tribal customs and norms. He said Gursal, the Pak-Afghan trade route, would reopen soon.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016