PARACHINAR/KOHAT: A first group of the families displaced from Parachinar due to law and order situation 11 years ago returned to their homes here on Wednesday.

Members of the 10 returning families were received warmly by elders and members of Toori-Bangash tribes as well as officials of Kurram administration and security forces at Bab-i-Kurram. They were garlanded amid drum beating, and were brought to their homes in a procession.

Brig Akhtar Aleem, Commander of Army’s 73 Brigade, and Kurram Deputy Commission Baseer Khan Wazir handed them over keys of their houses.

Senator Sajjad Toori, Haji Noor Mohammad of Bangash tribe, former MNA Sajid Toori, Alama Yousaf Hussaini and others were present on the occasion.

Hundreds of people vacated their homes and shifted to safer places after law and order deteriorated in Parachinar city in 2007. However, due to efforts of security forces, local elders and elected representatives the issue was resolved amicably.

Meanwhile, members of the reforms committee Parachinar have urged the government to release funds for restarting their businesses.

Talking to reporters in Kohat on Wednesday, they said their houses and shops were set on fire in 2007, forcing about 580 families to migrate to Kohat.

They said operation commanders of Waziristan and Kurram had played major role in bringing sectarian harmony in the region and struck a deal for repatriation of the displaced families. They said they needed money to reconstruct their damaged houses and restart businesses.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018