KHYBER: The Khyber chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami has demanded immediate return of all the internally displaced Kukikhel families and compensation to them for reconstruction of their damaged properties.

JI local activists have established a protest camp at the historic Bab-i-Khyber in Jamrud to press the authorities concerned for acceptance of their demands.

Zarghoon Shah, a leader of JI, told Dawn at the sit-in that majority of the displaced Kukikhel families were denied official assistance as they were not registered as IDPs when they were forced to leave their houses back in 2012.

Activists of other political parties and scores of Kukikhel residents are also participating at the protest sit-in.

The JI leader said that Kukikhels had no affiliation with any of the outlawed groups but none of the government agencies or departments could plead their case for being innocent despite living in miserable conditions for the last eight years.

Mr Shah said that return of Kukikhels was delayed despite official claims about successful military operation in Rajgal and surrounding areas that were inhabited by the Kukikhel families.

“The government has paved the way for repatriation of almost all the displaced families from Bajaur to Waziristan but it is delaying the return of Kukikhels without a valid reason,” he said.

Meanwhile, the district administration on Wednesday gave away cheques of Rs300,000 to the parents of two Kam Shalman youth, who lost their lives by drowning in the Kabul River while swimming along with their friend three days ago.

Their bodies could not be retrieved despite an extensive search by the Rescue 1122 staff during the last three days.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2020