KHYBER: Awami National Party (ANP) here on Monday backed the demand of Kukikhel tribesmen for their immediate return to Tirah and called upon authorities concerned to end oppression of the terrorism-affected people in the name of security and law and order.

Addressing Kukikhels at their protest camp at Bhagiyarree checkpost on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain assured them that his party would stand firmly behind them as their issue had become a problem of the entire Pakhtun nation.

He questioned the rationale behind not allowing the remaining Kukikhel families to go back to their homes despite official claims about eliminating militant groups and securing border with Afghanistan effectively with barbed wire.

“No law in the world prevents law abiding citizens from going back to their homes but here it is totally the opposite of it and the displaced families are denied permission to repatriate to their respective areas, which have been devastated by terrorism and military operations in the recent past,” said the ANP leader.

Police register FIR against more than 100 protesters

He told the protesters that if the government failed to announce a return plan in coming few days, Khudai Khidmatgar volunteers would organise a march along with the remaining Kukikhel families to their homes in Tirah.

Meanwhile, police in Jamrud registered an FIR against more than 100 Kukikhel protesters, who had closed the main highway since August 21 to press the government for immediate return of all the remaining IDPs to Tirah.

The FIR, registered on the complaint of ASI Riaz Khan, said that a police party during routine patrolling of the area came across an unlawful gathering of local tribesmen at Bhagiyarree, which was led by Malak Naseer Ahmad and some other notable activists of the tribe.

It said that participants of the protest were raising slogans against law enforcement agencies, security forces and high-ranking officials of army while also threatening their family members with suicide attacks and targeted killing.

It said that they were also inciting protesters for rebellion against the state and state institutions.

The FIR mentioned Malak Naseer Ahmad, Khan Wali, Sanaullah, Barkat Shah, Jalil, Khan Mohammad, Hussain Ahmad, Ibrar, Gohar, Najeeb, Janab Gul, Maseed Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and around 100 to 120 others, who could be identified during an identification parade.

It alleged that they unlawfully blocked the highway and disrupted regular traffic with the local police in possession of the speeches made during the protest which could be produced in the court, when required.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2024