KHYBER: Bara Siyasi Ittehad (BSI) on Tuesday expressed concerns over deteriorating security situation in Tirah valley and announced to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to devise a joint strategy against it.

In a meeting held at Bara Press Club, BSI also indicated that it would launch an active peace movement throughout Khyber to spread awareness among people for restoration of lasting peace in Tirah valley and the rest of the district.

BSI president Shireen Afridi said on the occasion that the situation in Tirah valley was getting out of control with every passing day as law enforcement agencies were acting as mere spectators.

He said that residents of Tirah and Bara were showing concerns over the presence of armed militants in different parts of the valley but all their pleadings fell on deaf ears. He claimed that Tehreek-i-Taliban and Lashkar-i-Islam were busy in fortifying their positions in different localities.

Claims TTP and LI militants fortifying their positions in different localities

Mr Afridi alleged that innocent locals were picked up for questioning by security forces and their houses were also thoroughly searched after they were forced by armed militants to provide them with food and shelter.

“BSI and people of Khyber will not tolerate this ‘pre-paid lawlessness’ and would resist every move to once again militarise the peaceful picturesque valley of Tirah at any cost,” he said.

BSI decided to accelerate its efforts for peace movement. It would soon convene a meeting of tribal elders, ulema, student organisations, trader unions, political activists, lawyers and journalists to devise a joint strategy.

The meeting also decided to organise peace rallies both in Tirah and Bara after consultations with stakeholders.

Meanwhile, protesting Kukikhel tribesmen in Jamrud threatened to block Peshawar-Torkham Highway for an indefinite period if provincial government failed to announce a schedule for return of the remaining displaced families of their tribe.

With their protest sit-in entering 19th day on Tuesday, they accused government of backtracking on its earlier promises of an early return of the remaining displaced families. They demanded a combined return plan instead of a phased wise return, which officials offered few days ago.

DEMAND: Special persons of Khyber have demanded preferential treatment to them by various government departments.

They were speaking at a khuli kutcheri in Bara. Officials of district administration, health, education departments and social welfare departments besides Rescue 1122, Wapda and Nadra attended the session.

Special persons said that they were made to wait in queue for long hours at Nadra centres as there was no facility for them there. They said that their colleagues employed in education department as teachers were intentionally posted at far off localities without taking into considerations their physical disabilities.

They complained about non-provision of free textbooks and related stationary to their children in schools. They accused officials of social welfare department of manipulating funds allocated for them. They alleged that those funds were provided only to those selected special persons, who had some contacts with relevant officials.

Special persons also demanded their inclusion in Benazir Income Support Programme.

The additional deputy commissioner, Nauman Khan, assured them that all their grievances would be addressed in due course of time.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024