IDPs of FATA their Issues and Challenges

ISLAMABAD: FATA Research Centre held a seminar titled ‘IDPs of FATA: Issues and Challenges’ and launched a report pertaining to the security situation of FATA hereon Tuesday at a local hotel.

Speakers of the seminar highlighted the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons living in different camps in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa who were prone to a number of maladies. The speakers brought into limelight the issues of IDP’s amidst the persisting wave of extremism and militancy in FATA and urged the government to ‘do more’ for their rehabilitation.

The chief guest of the seminar, Ahmer Bilal Sufi, Caretaker Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs said that people should be aware of Pakistan’s international commitments to tackle the issue of extremism and radicalization “We need to distinguish between pressure and obligation”.

While addressing at the occasion Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel of Awami National Party said, “We’ll forgive the blood of slain ANP workers if militants resort to table talks seriously”.

Ibrahim Shinwari a political analyst said, “The number of factors that compelled people to displace due to escalated militancy varies across the FATA. Drone Strikes, suicide bombing and other terrorist activities have affected the innocent civilian population in the Federally Administered Tribal belt during this prolonged conflict”.

He added that elders had been forced by the militants to send young people to their groups while capturing their sources of livelihood. This also caused mass migration from FATA.

Syed Zaheer-ul-Islam Shah, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authoritysaid, “People of Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw and FATA have not been suffering due to their own faults but due to the vested interests of international community”. DG PDMA informed the audience that IDPS from Bajaur, Mohmand and Orakzai had returned to their home while phase-wise repatriation of IDPs of Kurram and South Waziristan is in process.

DG PDMA said that 165,427 families are still living as IDPs in different camps.He added that more than 19,000 IDPs recently emerged from Khyber Agency are still living as IDPs.

Gul Bat Khan Afridi the head of IDP Shura said the recent blast in Jalozai Camp claimed more than 18 lives but still no security measures have been taken for the camp but ironically camp management has taken strict security measures for themselves.