PESHAWAR: Residents and members of the Domel Welfare Society Arandu, a border area in Lower Chitral, staged a protest to demand compensation for their losses in the ongoing clashes with Afghan forces.
Carrying placards and banners highlighting their grievances, the protesters gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club. Speaking on the occasion, the demonstrators said that the recent cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the heavy firing forced many residents of Arandu to leave their homes and live as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
They stated that displaced families were currently living in schools in Drosh or staying with relatives under difficult conditions. Many houses were damaged during the firing incidents, and several people were injured.
The protesters acknowledged that district authorities and welfare organisations provided some assistance during Ramazan, but said the relief was insufficient. They expressed disappointment that neither the federal nor provincial governments have officially declared them as IDPs so far.
The protesters urged federal and provincial authorities, the chief justice of Pakistan, and the army chief to declare Arandu a disaster-hit area and begin emergency relief operations. They also demanded the establishment of proper camps or residential colonies with basic facilities instead of temporary accommodation in schools.
Additionally, they called for urgent educational arrangements for children to prevent disruption to their studies and demanded a proper assessment and compensation for the damages suffered by affected families.The protesters warned that if their demands are not met, they will expand the scope of their protest movement.
