August 24, 2024
By Islam Gul Afridi
JAMRUD
Khyber district’s Jamrud town is the site of a nearly three-weeks-long sit-in protest by the Kukikhel tribe, while since the past three days, protestors have blocked the Pakistan-Afghanistan highway at Bhagyari, disrupting all traffic.
Originally from the Tirah Valley, the protestors were evacuated from their homes during Operation Zarb-e-Azab, which lasted from 2014 to 2017. 15 years on, with the state claiming that peace has been restored to the Valley, the displaced Kukikhels are still contending with homelessness as they have yet to be allowed to return to their ancestral lands.
The Kukihel have launched several protests for their immediate resettlement, and on a few occasions even attempted to forcibly reenter the Valley but were barred by security forces.
Malik Nasir Khan Afridi, one of the lead organizers of the sit-in, said that the Government keeps making up excuses to prevent thousands of displaced families from returning to their homes. He also provided that some people were allowed to return only after they themselves carried out demonstrations.
Afrdid explained that much of the Tirah Valley’s infrastructure, such as homes, schools, healthcare units and roads, has been utterly destroyed. The populace also relied solely on agriculture for income, but in their prolonged absence, their fields in Tirah have become barren. In addition to their resettlement, the protestors are also demanding compensation for the homes that have been destroyed, restoration of basic facilities and security for the people.
On the invitation of the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, a meeting was held at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar between a 20-member delegation from the sit-in, the Commissioner of Peshawar, administrative officials of district Khyber and other elected representatives. At this meeting, the CM assured the protest delegation that their concerns would be discussed in the Apex Committee.
The meeting was much criticized on social media, with some users claiming that the CM had informed the delegation that he had no authority in this regard. However, Haji Muhammad Khan, who was present in the meeting, told Voicepk.net that the CM indeed called for a meeting of the Apex Committee to resolve their issue and promised to ensure the participation of all relevant authorities.
As these protestors await proceedings with the Apex Committee, they continue with their sit-in.
Badsah Gul and his family are also participating in the protest. They were displaced from their serene village in Tirah Valley 12 years ago, and since have experienced great hardship. They have been residing in a rented house these past two decades – they are unwilling to permanently settle anywhere other than their original home in Tirah, despite knowing that it probably lies in ruins.
As a result of the protest sit-in, commercial trade along the Pakistan-Afghanistan highway remains suspended, impacting not only businesses but also the transport owners and drivers of cargo-carrying vehicles.
Qari Shankhel loaded his pickup truck from Peshawar’s vegetable markets and, passing through Landi Kotal, managed to reach Bhagyari at 4:00 am but was prevented from going any further by the protestors. He too regretted the difficulties being faced by traders and transporters alike, and suggested that the government and the demonstrators work out a solution through talks.
Around 30,000 families of the Kukikhel tribe were evacuated from Tirah’s Rajgal region and other adjoining areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in 2009. As a result of a series of demonstrations since 2021, 70% of displaced families have been able to return to their original abodes. Participants of this sit-in say that their peaceful protest will continue until the government gives full assurance of their dignified return.