PESHAWAR: Mehsud tribal elders seem disappointed over what they say is a ‘cold shoulder’ response from the political authorities of South Waziristan Agency. They say the authorities are not fulfilling their commitments to provide financial assistance to returning displaced people.
A meeting of All FATA Mehsud Jirga is being convened today (Monday) to review the situation followed by a protest rally. Members of the jirga visited the area the other day and expressed dissatisfaction over the arrangements for 330 families resettled since December 4.
An official in the political administration told Pakistan Today on Sunday that a curfew is likely in Tank town where the jirga and a protest rally is scheduled.
He said the authorities resort to imposition of curfew whenever there is a meeting of Mehsud elders to avoid any terrorist attack on the jirgas.
Some members of the jirga told Pakistan Today on Sunday they have been resettled in the area without proper security arrangements and financial help. The recently returned families in six villages are complaining that they are without electricity, water and the promised financial assistance to rebuild their houses damaged in the military operations during the last the last one year.
“We were assured of Rs 25000 aid per family on return and Rs 100,000 for each damaged house but the authorities did not keep their promises. The first phase of resettlement of displaced Mehsuds is highly significant and thousands of families are closely following the situation. If the resettling Mehsuds’ issues were not addressed they would reconsider their plan to go back,” a tribal elder who told Pakistan Today.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that some members of the jirga have been made hostage while holding talks with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan leaders in North Waziristan for safe their safe return. “Some 23 members of the jirga have been kept hostage by the militants,” a source from Miranshah said, but the claim was neither confirmed by militants nor tribal elders from Mehsud areas.
