KHYBER: The return of thousands of displaced families of Tirah, planned to commence on Oct 10 (today), was postponed for an indefinite period with officials reluctant to give any tangible reason for ‘a change of mind’ despite earlier assurances.

A dejected group of the 24-member committee of elders, which was formed at the time of eviction of families from Tirah, said in a video message shared on social media that Khyber Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali expressed his administration’s inability to honour the official commitment of initiating the return process, as was promised in early July.

Kamaluddin, a senior member of the 24-member committee said on the occasion that they felt deeply dejected and ‘cheated’. He said that the committee was given a firm assurance by the inspector general Frontier Corps along with high ranking government officials in their July meeting at Balahisar Fort in Peshawar that all the displaced families would be sent back from Oct 10 onwards.

“They even said that if the situation allowed them, the return date could be pushed ahead in order to facilitate speedy return of Tirah families before the onset of winter in the valley,” he said.

He said both the high ranking security and administration officials also assured them of complete fulfilment of the 37-point charter of demands they had submitted to the government at the time of their displacement.

Kamaluddin added that only recently they were given a similar and firm assurance about the Oct 10 deadline, when they met security officials at the Tirah brigade headquarters.

He said it was not clear as to when the new date for return would be announced and who will shoulder the responsibility for the execution of the plan.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026