Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi reached his native area to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, on the other hand, the victims and IDPs (Internal Peace Victims) of Tirah Valley were forced to protest and sit-in on the streets for their basic rights even on the joyous occasion of Eid.
According to details sent by political and social circles and local journalist Jahanzeb Khan, while the entire country was celebrating during the joyous days of Eid, the protest sit-in of the victims of Tirah Valley continued at the central Khyber Chowk in Bara.
The protesters also raised strong slogans against the provincial and federal governments on the day of Eid by wearing black bands.
Protestors demanded honorable return as Several families in the Tirah Valley have been living in a state of destitution after leaving their homes due to unrest for a long time.
The victims demand that they be given the status of regular IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and that they be enabled to return to their native areas with dignity and safety.
As a result of prolonged military operations and unrest, houses and gardens worth crores of rupees have been destroyed in the Tirah Valley. These people are forced to live in dilapidated houses in the harsh weather and the government has not yet provided rehabilitation funds or adequate compensation.
The participants in the sit-in said that the affected families are facing severe shortage of food, clean drinking water and medicines, while the closure of Tirah Maidan Road and strict travel restrictions at security check posts have made life difficult for the locals.
Local elders and leaders of the “Bara Political Alliance” say that Muhammad Sohail Afridi belongs to the same soil and is the first and youngest Chief Minister of the province to be elected from the tribal districts. The aim of this protest, while he is present in his own area, is to convince the provincial government that as long as people from his own tribe and neighboring areas are protesting on the streets, celebrating Eid at the government level is like rubbing salt in their wounds.
The protesters have declared in bold words that their protest sit-in and the closure of the Pak-Afghan highway will continue in phases until their important demands such as their honorable return, payment of compensation, and relaxation of check posts are met.
