KHYBER: Talks between the government officials and the Kukikhel elders failed on Tuesday with the tribe announcing to stage a demonstration at the Bab-i-Khyber on Wednesday to protest the authorities’ failure to issue a schedule for the return of the remaining displaced families to their homes.

The Kukikhel tribesmen have established a protest camp at the Bab-i-Khyber for the last nine days, demanding an immediate announcement of the schedule for the return of the remaining displaced families of their tribe.

Peshawar division commissioner Riaz Mehsud, Khyber deputy commissioner Captain (retired) Sanaullah Khan, District Police Officer Rai Mazhar Iqbal and other officials of the district administration engaged in prolonged discussions with Kukikhel elders along with MNA Iqbal Afridi and MPA Suhail Afridi.

Sources said the Kukikhels refused to accept any official offer short of an immediate announcement of the schedule for the return of the remaining displaced families, and conducting an immediate survey of their damaged houses accompanied by the announcement of a comprehensive compensation package for them.

The sources said the officials’ team tried to persuade the Kukikhels to a phased return of the families in consultations with all the stakeholders. The elders’ team, however, refused to agree to any delay in issuance of the return schedule and later announced that a large protest demonstration would be held on August 14 with the protesters carrying black flags.

Earlier, the tribesmen held a demonstration in Jamrud Bazaar and called for the acceptance of their demands.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024