BARA: An All Parties Conference (APC) convened by the Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber District on Sunday expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly in Tirah Valley and the Bara plains.
The participants issued a joint declaration holding both federal and provincial governments responsible for the prevailing crisis.The APC was attended by representatives of various political parties and groups, including ANP Khyber president Abdur Raziq Afridi, Shireen Afridi, Zahir Shah Afridi of PMLN, Syed Kabir Afridi of JUIF, Khan Wali Afridi of Jamaat-e-Islami, Malik Attaullah Khan of Pakistan Awami Inqilabi League, Dr Sher Shah Afridi and Willayat Afridi of PPP, and Hashim Afridi of Khyber Union, among others.
Former parliamentarian Nasir Khan Afridi, social figure Gul Ghafoor, legal expert Danish Afridi, and other political and social personalities also attended the conference.Speakers at the conference stated that the responsibility for the rehabilitation of displaced persons now rested with the provincial government. They urged authorities to immediately restore peace in Tirah and present a clear and workable plan to ensure the dignified return of affected families.
They emphasized the early repatriation of displaced residents from Rajgal, Sandapal, Daray Naghri, Bagh Haram, Khapur, and Sarghar, and called for the fulfillment of commitments made to them.
The participants condemned alleged corruption, political interference, and irregularities in the registration and relief processes for affectees, and demanded transparent investigations.
Concern was also expressed over delays in the disbursement of announced financial assistance, including the monthly stipend of Rs50,000.APC leaders called for a special package for families of martyrs and demanded that all affected families be formally recognized as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
They further urged action against deforestation and illegal land occupation in Tirah, and called for emergency measures to curb rising crime and kidnapping-for-ransom incidents in Bara and lower Tirah.
The speakers described the worsening security situation in the merged tribal districts as a reflection of the state’s weakened writ and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures.They warned that if their demands were not met promptly, all political parties would resort to nationwide protests.
