PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday once again sought replies from the federal and provincial governments, as well as other relevant authorities, in writ petitions filed over possible displacement of residents due to a likely operation in Tirah Valley, rehabilitation of affectees, and compensation for losses.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Naeem Anwar and Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel adjourned the hearing and ordered that all related writ petitions be clubbed together.
During the hearing, Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Faisal Utmankhel, the assistant attorney general, six elders of a tribal jirga, and petitioners’ counsel Barrister Saud Javed and Zarak Khan Afridi Advocate appeared before the court.
The advocate general informed the bench that a reply had been submitted on behalf of the provincial government, stating that it had not granted permission for any operation in Tirah Valley.
The assistant attorney general similarly told the court that the federal government had also not authorised any such operation and had submitted a detailed report in this regard.
Counsel for the petitioners argued that reports of a possible military operation in Tirah had forced locals to migrate in severe cold and snowfall, compelling them to leave their homes.
He submitted that it remained unclear who had authorised the operation, as both the federal and provincial governments had denied granting approval. He further questioned whether the operation had been approved by the assembly.
The counsel requested the court to direct the authorities to produce any resolution passed by the federal or provincial governments regarding the initiation of an operation in Tirah, adding that the federal government was making contradictory statements in parliament and before the court.
During the hearing of another petition, Advocate Zarak Khan Afridi submitted that since both governments had distanced themselves from the operation, residents should be allowed to return to their homes and the area should be reopened. He said that in several areas where operations were ongoing, residents were still living there.
In a separate petition concerning collateral damage, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that no reply had yet been filed. The court issued notices to the federal and provincial governments, directing them to submit responses by the next hearing, and adjourned proceedings.
