Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called for immediate registration of 20,000 displaced tribesmen of Khyber Agency to issue them watan cards. This was stated by Haji Iqbal Afridi, a local leader PTI while addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Friday.
Shazia Naz, provincial leader women wing, city president, Mohammad Laiq Tarin accompanied him on the occasion. He said that the 18th months long military operation had forced more than 20,000 tribesmen to leave their homes and take refugee in Peshawar city and adjoining areas. However, he said that only 6000 displaced persons have been registered so far.
He alleged massive irregularities in distribution of watan cards in the province, saying most of tribal flood affected people have been deprived of the facility. He said that the provincial government had issued watan cards on name of owners where they were temporary residing and flood affected tribesmen were deprived of it.
He called upon the human rights activists to raise voice for poor and war-ravaged tribesmen to play due role in distribution of watan cards. He added the tribesmen had faced enormous difficulties due to excessive imposition of curfew and military operation in tribal belt. A large number of innocent tribesmen have been died and injured in ongoing security forces action against militants, he maintained.
Afridi said that increase in drone attacks have further intensified chaos in Khyber Agency and almost 100 families leave the area everyday. He expressed deep concern over lacking of facilities for flood-affected people and internally displaced person from conflict areas.
He further alleged that watan cards were being distributed on political grounds and deserving people were deprived from the facility. He also criticised that non-governmental organisation role remained vague to facilitate the IDPs and flood affected people. "No prompt measures had been taken for flood-hit people of Khyber Agency by any NGO," he concluded.
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