PESHAWAR—The Awami National Party (ANP) led all-party conference in Khyber concluded with a stinging rebuke of the federal and provincial governments over the deteriorating security situation and the displacement of thousands of families from Tirah Valley.
Senior Vice President, ANP Khyber, Haji Sherin Afridi, presented a unanimous 12-point declaration. The document holds state institutions, alongside the federal and provincial governments, responsible for the “forced expulsion” of residents and the subsequent administrative paralysis in relief operations.
Addressing the media, Afridi stated that the provincial government has “practically ceased to exist” in the former tribal districts. “The state has effectively abandoned the people of Tirah, leaving them at the mercy of both harsh weather and a security vacuum,” Afridi remarked.
عوامی نیشنل پارٹی ضلع خیبر کے زیرِ اہتمام ضلع خیبر میں بدامنی، کرپشن اور وادی تیراہ کے متاثرین کے جبری انخلا کے خلاف آل پارٹیز کانفرنس کا انعقاد کیا گیا، جس میں مختلف سیاسی و سماجی شخصیات نے شرکت کی۔ سینئر نائب صدر اے این پی خیبر شیرین آفریدی اعلامیہ پیش کر رہے ہیں۔#ANP |… pic.twitter.com/4Cm58GHLUX
The ANP’s all-party conference in Khyber specifically targeted the missed deadlines for the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Although the government previously promised a return by April 2026, the participants noted that no practical roadmap exists. Consequently, the declaration demanded that the government immediately restore peace in Rajgal, Sandapal, Dray Nagari, Baghram, Khafoor, and Surghar to facilitate a dignified return.
Furthermore, the leadership urged the government to:
Present a Sustainable Strategy: Provide a clear, workable plan for long-term regional peace.
Formalize Agreements: Implement all promises made to tribal elders in a written and legally binding format.
Restore State Writ: Take urgent steps to control rising crimes, including kidnapping for ransom, in Upper Bara and the Bara plains.
Financial Relief and Accountability
The ANP’s all-party conference in Khyber highlighted systemic corruption and “nepotism” in the IDP registration process. Leaders strongly condemned the delays in releasing the 250,000 PKR reconstruction aid and the 50,000 PKR monthly allowance. “The pending monthly allowance for the last three months must reach the affected people immediately,” Afridi noted.
Registration Integrity: A fair investigation into political influence and the dismissal of unclear registration methods that rely only on Polio or NADRA lists.
Shahada Package: The introduction of a special “martyr package” for civilian victims equivalent to that of government officials.
NAB Audit: A comprehensive audit by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of all development funds used in District Khyber since the 2018 merger.
Natural Resource Protection: Immediate action against the illegal cutting of Tirah’s forests and the unauthorized occupation of lands.
Warnings of Widespread Protest
The ANP’s all-party conference in Khyber concluded with a stark warning that the current situation mirrors past tragedies. Afridi pointed out that the daily incidents of unrest prove the government’s authority has vanished. Therefore, the political leadership clarified that if the state does not act on these constitutional demands, the parties will launch country-wide protests.
“Diverting attention from the dignified return of Tirah’s people under the guise of developmental projects is a failed attempt,” the declaration concluded.
The conference reiterated that the safe, timely return of residents—allowing them to benefit from their crops—remains the only acceptable solution.
Editor at The Peshawar Post, formerly associated with The Express Tribune as a reporter. He has a keen interest in covering culture, archaeology, music, history, and climate change, with a focus on stories that connect heritage, environment, and society.
