The Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber district has announced a phased protest and legal strategy over the non-implementation of the 37-point demands of the Tirah affectees and to seek a resolution to the problems faced by Rajgal affectees.

The ANP has announced a peaceful protest at Bara Chowk on September 18. It said that if there is no significant progress on the demands, affectees are not allowed to return to their crops, and the promised relief package is not released, large-scale peaceful sit-ins will be held outside the Chief Minister’s House, Governor’s House, Bala Hisar Fort and the Corps Commander’s House before September 30.

The announcement was made by ANP Khyber district president Safir-e-Aman Abdul Razzaq Afridi during a press conference at the Bara Press Club.

Abdul Razzaq Afridi said the affectees of Tirah Maidan and Rajgal were facing various difficulties, including loss of lives and property, but the promises made to them and their 37-point demands had not yet been adequately implemented.

He said effective measures were needed to compensate the affectees for losses to their homes, lands, crops and other properties. For this purpose, the ANP has issued a special form to document the losses suffered by the affectees. The forms will collect details of casualties, financial losses, and damage to homes, lands, crops and other properties.

Also Read : Which KP Officers Will Get the New Security Risk Allowance?

According to the party, applications, complaints, data and damage assessment forms will be collected from Tirah affectees at designated camps on September 14, 15 and 16. Legal consultations with the Malgari Wakeelan (Lawyers’ Forum) will be held on September 17.

According to the protest schedule announced by the ANP, a peaceful demonstration will be held at Bara Chowk on September 18. The party has also invited other political parties to participate in the protest in support of the demands of the Tirah and Rajgal affectees.

The ANP said all political parties could participate in the protest under their respective flags. Abdul Razzaq Afridi clarified that the ANP’s protest was not aimed at bringing down any government, political blackmail or targeting any political party, but was intended to secure the legitimate rights and demands of the Tirah affectees.

The ANP said that if there was no significant progress on the demands following the September 18 protest, large peaceful sit-ins would be held outside the Chief Minister’s House, Governor’s House, Bala Hisar Fort and the Corps Commander’s House before September 30.

According to party leaders, Tirah affectees would participate in these sit-ins carrying copies of the Holy Quran. The protesters would continue their demonstration until an official notification for the affectees’ return was issued or adequate financial assistance was provided in cash to compensate for losses to crops and other property.

Abdul Razzaq Afridi said that despite not being in power, the ANP had continued to raise the issues of Tirah and Rajgal affectees on every possible forum. He said the party had also supported the affectees through food and cash assistance and staged protests in support of their demands.

The ANP’s Khyber district chapter said the Tirah and Rajgal affectees could no longer be left in uncertainty and made to wait indefinitely. The party said it would continue its peaceful struggle through constitutional, legal and democratic forums until the affectees’ dignified and safe return, compensation for crop and property losses, the relief package and other demands were addressed.

District vice president Sadiq Chiragh, district deputy general secretary Abdul Wahab, district spokesperson Ameer Shah, district finance secretary Shabbir Afridi, Bara tehsil president Abdul Wahid, Bara general secretary Subhanullah, Malgari Lekwal district president Umeed Afridi, Bara tehsil Khudai Khidmatgar Organisation Salaar Khudai Khan, district Nangialay Salaar Qazi Khan and other office-bearers were also present at the press conference.