PESHAWAR: Tribal elders want direct interaction with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to ensure early return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native areas in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

“Everybody knows that powers lie with the army, so let us talk to General Raheel or director general Inter Services Intelligence to find out a quick solution to the problems being faced by the tribal people,” said Malik Nasrullah Wazir, chief of Madakhel tribe in North Waziristan Agency, while speaking at a tribal jirga here on Saturday.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had convened the jirga, which was attended by Sirajul Haq, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Afrasiab Khattak, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Rahim Dad Khan and elders from seven tribal agencies and Frontier Regions.

All Parties Political Alliance of North Waziristan Agency has launched a campaign to mobilise the country’s political leadership to pave the way for unconditional and immediate return of IDPs to their homes. The alliance has planned to call an all-party conference in Islamabad before Ramazan to shore up their support.

Malik Nasrullah, who has been designated head of the tribal jirga, said that recently Maulana Fazlur Rehman had approached Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to expedite return of the IDPs to North Waziristan and remove unnecessary hurdles being created in their way.

“Nawaz Sharif replied that he will talk to Gen Raheel,” he said, adding that the civilian leadership was helpless. Elders from other areas also demanded direct contact Elders want direct interaction with army chief for IDPs return with the army.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman assured the jirga leaders that he would arrange a jirga to be attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Gen Raheel and political leadership in the near future.

He criticised the government for forcing IDPs to sign an agreement with the administration prior to return to their homes. He asked the government to refrain from using unlawful practices that caused delay in return of IDPs to their homes in Fata. He said that the government should facilitate return of IDPs in a dignified manner and announce a package for their rehabilitation.

“Tribal people will be bound by Frontier Crimes Regulation after return to their native areas while state institutions will work within the ambit of Constitution,” Maulana Rehman said, adding that the existing situation was not in the favour of institutions, including the army and establishment.

The JUI-F chief urged the government not to tie the hands and feet of the tribal people, otherwise its repercussions would be serious. He said that tribal people were being suppressed not to raise voice for their rights.

Joint declaration read out by Maulana Rehman at the end of the jirga demanded of the government to send IDPs back to their homes as soon as possible. The declaration said that all institutions should operate in Fata within the framework of Constitution.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party president Mehmood Khan Achakzai criticised the government policies regarding Fata and demanded withdrawal of troops from tribal areas. He said that on the one hand people of Fata were victimised, on the other they had been forced to say “long live Pakistan” which was not possible.

QWP chairman Aftab Sherpao suggested that Nawaz Sharif should call Gen Raheel to find out solution to the problems of IDPs. He termed payment of package to the returnees insufficient and asked the government to make proper assessment of damaged properties of the people.

JI chief Sirajul Haq said that being chief executive of the country Nawaz Sharif could not absolve himself of the responsibility. He said that army came under the command of the prime minister and the political leadership should directly talk to the prime minister and not to the army chief.

ANP general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain hit out at the government for forcing tribal people to sign the agreement. He said that army had been deployed in Fata, therefore the jirga should discuss IDPs-related problems with the military leadership directly. He said that the establishment should not humiliate IDPs by forcing them to give undertaking for showing loyalty with the country.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2015

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