PESHAWAR: The students belonging to North Waziristan tribal district on Tuesday lamented that despite repeated surveys the internally displaced persons who had returned to their towns were yet to be given compensation to help them reconstruct their houses and shops.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Raheel Dawar flanked by other students said the government had conducted survey of the damaged buildings three times but even then the IDPs were not given any cash payment so far.

He said despite merger of the erstwhile Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the tribal people were yet to get any relief. He said while crossing various checkpoints the people were forced by Levies personnel to pay illegal taxes.

He urged the government to ensure early payment of compensation to the people who had suffered heavily during the war on terror and displacement. The displaced families, he said were unable to reconstruct their houses because of non-payment of compensation.

Mr Dawar pointed out that the local administration had also started collecting fee from those seeking NOCs for reconstruction their shops.

“We will start agitation after Ramazan 20 if the government does not resolve our problems,” he warned, and added the people would block the main road in Waziristan district.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019