DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Provincial minister for relief , rehabilitation and resettlement Aqibullah Khan has rejected what he described as an “unsuccessful attempt” by the federal government to blame the provincial government for the displacement of people from the Tirah Valley and the overall situation there.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the minister said that statements made by federal ministers in the National Assembly regarding the operation in the Tirah Valley are on record and clearly establish the federal government’s role.
Aqibullah added that the letter issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khyber and the stance of the local 24-member Tirah committee were also before the public.
Mr Khan maintained that the people of the Tirah Valley were forced to migrate due to the operation.
He said that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had repeatedly clarified the provincial government’s position on the Tirah Valley situation, adding that all political parties had jointly opposed the operation during the Aman Jirga held in the provincial assembly.
The provincial minister regretted that the federal government first imposes its decisions on the people and then abandons the affected population in difficult times.
He termed the federal government’s statements on the issue as “ridiculous” and disconnected from ground realities.
He said that the provincial government had released funds to ensure timely relief for the displaced people, stressing that the purpose of releasing these funds was to provide immediate assistance to those forced to migrate. “The provincial government cannot leave the affected population helpless under any circumstances,” he added.
Aqibullah Khan categorically stated that the federal government’s claims regarding the evacuation of people from the Tirah Valley are baseless, fabricated and contrary to facts, describing them as a malicious attempt to mislead the public. He asserted that such efforts would not be allowed to succeed.
