PESHAWAR: Under the supervision of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, a ‘Grand Peace Jirga’ held in Khyber categorically rejected the ambiguity being spread regarding the displacement of people from Tirah.
The participants of the Jirga strongly protested against the injustice and oppression inflicted upon the people of Tirah and resolved to march towards Islamabad to seek their legitimate rights.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Afridi welcomed the decisions of the Jirga and announced that consultative jirgas would also be held in other tribal districts before proceeding to Islamabad, so that the collective opinion of all affected areas could be presented.
He added that a joint Grand Jirga of all tribal districts would then be convened to finalize the future course of action.
He categorically declared that there will be no compromise on the rights of the province and its people, and that no amount of wealth in the world can buy his conscience.
He said that the provincial government had issued advance warnings about the deteriorating situation, but these concerns were dismissed as lies and propaganda, and even the federal government of the time failed to act with seriousness.
He said that it was communicated clearly that terrorists had reached the mountains, yet no action was taken. Later, it was reported that they had descended into the valleys, but again no attention was paid.
Eventually, terrorists reached people’s homes and began taking food at gunpoint. In such circumstances, he asked, where could people go and what options they have.
He emphasised that the real question is not how the terrorists obtained food, but how they were allowed to reach people’s homes, and where the security forces responsible for stopping them were.
He said that he had already pointed out that an operation in Tirah was being used as a means to deliberately weaken them, despite the fact that heavy snowfall was expected in the area. His warnings were ignored.
Despite repeated objections, the people of Tirah were forcibly displaced, and when the decisions taken behind closed doors appeared to be failing, a press release was issued to falsely suggest that residents were leaving the area voluntarily, he said, adding that such a press release is, in fact, tantamount to a vote of no confidence in one’s own institutions.
The Chief Minister further stated that promises made to internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not been honored, whereas the provincial government has so far paid more than Rs 7billion from its own resources. He added that Rs52 billion in IDP dues are still payable by the federal government. In addition, he said that a total of 4758 billion rupees remain outstanding to the province from the federation.
Afridi announced that a Chief Minister Relief Account would be established for the affectees and that the registration process would be expedited to ensure that no affected family faces further hardship.
He also informed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited him for a meeting on provincial rights, where he will present the case of the people of the province with full force and determination.
The Chief Minister said that he would also visit other tribal districts, emphasising that all tribes have made unparalleled sacrifices for Pakistan.
He expressed deep sorrow and grief over the recent incidents of terrorism in Balochistan, strongly condemned these acts, and stated that the provincial government stands in full solidarity with the families of the martyrs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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