DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The provincial president of Awami National Party (ANP) Mian Iftikhar Hussain has criticised the provincial government for what he termed “gross incompetence, criminal negligence and mismanagement” in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Tirah Valley.
He said the plight of Tirah’s displaced population was entirely avoidable, as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Khyber had formally warned the provincial government in October about the likelihood of displacement due to heavy snowfall.
According to him, the district administration had also recommended immediate planning for transport, food supplies, cash assistance, registration of affected families and the establishment of transit points.
Despite having nearly two months to prepare, the provincial government failed to take any practical steps, leaving thousands of citizens exposed to snow, extreme cold and a severe lack of basic facilities, he added.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain questioned the government’s claims of “change” and good governance, asking why citizens were abandoned when the threat was already known and an emergency notification was eventually issued on December 26.
“Paper notifications, statements and blame games cannot feed hungry children or save elderly people trapped in the snow,” he said.
He accused the government of trying to conceal its failures through political statements and of using a sensitive humanitarian tragedy for political point-scoring.
ANP leader stressed that governance requires accepting responsibility along with authority, rather than shifting blame.
The ANP leader demanded immediate, transparent and dignified relief measures for the affected population and called for clear identification and accountability of those responsible for the negligence.
He warned that the people of KP, particularly Tirah, should not be treated as a “testing ground,” adding that the patience of Pakhtuns should not be tested further.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain reaffirmed that the ANP stands with the people of Tirah and will continue to raise its voice against what he described as tragic incompetence, negligence and indifference at every forum.
