KOHAT, Sept 10: The influx of internally displaced persons from the adjoining conflict-hit tribal areas is affecting the socio-economic fabric of society in Kohat, according to officials and residents of the district.

Officials said that during the past few years, people had sifted to Kohat from Kurram, Orakzai and Bajaur agencies and semi-tribal area Darra Adamkhel, Swat district and Malakand. They said that the IDPs settled permanently in the district.

“It is not in my knowledge whether the displaced families have returned to their respective areas because it is the job of security forces that are still engaged in Fata,” social welfare department director Shazia Khattak told Dawn by telephone on Monday.

Ms Khattak was social welfare officer in Kohat at the time of migration of people from the affected areas to the district.

She said that disaster management cell, social welfare department and UNHCR used to keep strict check on infiltration of displaced people into Kohat but they somehow managed to shift to the district.

No camp was established for them in Kohat and only those, who had relatives in the district, were allowed, she added.

Ms Khattak said that displaced people bought land and constructed houses in various parts of Kohat. “Now there is a separate colony, known as Orakzai Banda, in Kohat along Indus Highway. The donor agencies provided ration to them twice but now they have been on their own for the last more than two years,” she said.

The local residents alleged that mushroom growth of residential areas, inhabited by displaced tribal people, had created problems for law enforcement agencies. Most of the tribal people had brought with them their family feuds, they added.

Most of the displaced tribesmen have started running public transport vehicles, creating traffic problems in the city. About half furlong distance between Hangu Chowk and Shah Faisal Gate now takes at least 20 minutes for a vehicle owing to rush and traffic mess in the area.

According to sources, about 36,513 families comprising 328,000 individuals shifted to Kohat from the affected tribal area during 2008-10 that doubled the population of the district. The influx of tribal people also resulted in rush at hospitals, educational institutions and inns.

Saifullah, an official of social welfare department, said that each displaced family was consisted of at least nine members. “Even after suspension of registration process, tribesmen have been sneaking into Kohat for the last two years. We have received no order to either stop or register them,” he added.

The local residents said that crime rate had also increased in the area after arrival of displaced tribal people. They said that police were being attacked repeatedly in some areas, especially near Dhoda and along Indus Highway. At least two police stations and several checkposts were required to maintain law and order in the new colonies established by the displaced people, they added.

DSP Ihsanullah Khan told Dawn that the three new police stations, inaugurated by former IGP Malik Naveed, were still working as checkposts because the required strength was not provided to them. He said that they couldn’t patrol the area owing to shortage of staff.

To a question, the DSP said that militants also came to Kohat in the garb of displaced people. It was difficult to differentiate between common tribesmen and terrorists, he added. Mr Khan said that it was the job of intelligence agencies to trace militants and locate their hideouts so that police could take action against them.