PHC told neither federal nor K-P govt authorised Tirah operation

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court was informed on Friday that neither the federal nor the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government had authorised any military operation in Tirah Valley, as both governments distanced themselves from responsibility during the hearing of a petition concerning the alleged operation and the resulting displacement of residents.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Faheem Wali, heard the writ petition filed against the alleged military action and the hardships faced by local residents, including displacement amid severe cold and snowfall. K-P Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel and Additional Attorney General Sanaullah represented the provincial and federal governments, respectively.

Both law officers told the court that no formal approval for an operation in Tirah had been issued by their respective governments.

The petitioner’s counsel, Barrister Saud Javed, argued that residents were being forced to leave their homes due to the situation, but it remained unclear who authorised the operation and whether any approval had been taken from the relevant assemblies.

Read: K-P CM doubles down, calls Khyber jirga meeting for Sunday to settle Tirah displacement controversy

The court issued a notice to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and directed it to submit a report within one week. It also ordered the immediate release of funds for affected residents and summoned tribal elders at the next hearing to verify whether displaced persons are receiving assistance at government-established relief camps.

The court also called the relief secretary to appear and directed both federal and provincial governments to submit detailed reports. The hearing was adjourned until February 12.

Friction between the federal and K-P governments over the Tirah Valley situation has continued unabated as the former maintains that no operation is being carried out while Chief Minister Sohail Afridi sticks by his claims. The federal government maintains that only small-scale, intelligence-based operations against militants are under way and that no mass evacuation is required. The provincial government rejects this claim.

Thousands of families remain displaced from Tirah Valley in Khyber district as the K-P government oversees their relocation amid worsening security and heavy snowfall. According to the PDMA, the evacuation began on January 10. So far, 11,400 families have been registered, with more than 10,000 relocated to safer areas, including Bara and Peshawar.

CM Afridi has opposed the ongoing operation and forced displacement in Tirah Valley, warning that decisions taken “behind closed doors” had once again plunged the region into suffering and instability. He decried that elderly people, women and children were being uprooted in freezing winter conditions.

In a detailed video message on Tuesday, the chief minister said that “extremely harsh conditions are once again being imposed on Tirah and the people are suffering the severe consequences of decisions taken behind closed doors”.

Also on Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that no military operation was being carried out in Tirah Valley, terming the migration of people a routine and seasonal process due to harsh weather and snowfall.

The news conference came two days after the federal and provincial governments traded barbs over who authorised the evacuation process after hundreds of Tirah residents vacated their homes ahead of planned military action against terrorists.