By Ali Afzal

A jirga was held in Manato area of Central Kurram to address the problems faced by people displaced by military operations. Jirga elders demanded immediate financial compensation for affected families and practical steps to resolve their other issues.

According to the elders, 1,661 temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) have been deprived of the Rs25,000 financial compensation despite completing all government verification procedures and biometric registration.

Addressing the jirga, PTI leader Khawaja Nahid and other elders said that affected families in Manato and surrounding villages have been facing severe difficulties for several months, but have yet to receive any financial assistance.

They said residents of various villages, including Landoki, Lail Gadda, Khomray, Kamran, Nari Rog, Wot, Warsta Mela, Pir Kot, Zarif Khan Kalay and Gawaki, were forced to leave their homes and ancestral lands due to the security situation.

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According to local residents, despite completing all government requirements, verification procedures and necessary formalities, they have still not received any financial assistance several months after their displacement. The prolonged delay in compensation has created severe financial difficulties for the affected families.

The displaced people said they had lost their assets and sources of income during the displacement. Daily-wage workers have been particularly badly affected, as the loss of their income has forced many families to rely on relatives and the local community for support.

An internally displaced resident, Abdullah, said that under the current circumstances, even arranging two meals a day has become a major challenge. He added that many parents are unable to meet their children’s basic needs and provide them with healthcare.

The jirga elders demanded that compensation funds be released immediately and that the reasons for the delay in payments be explained. They said that despite the completion of the affected people’s data and all necessary verification procedures, the failure to pay compensation was further worsening their difficulties.

The jirga elders warned that if their demands were not addressed soon, they would be forced to launch large-scale protests.

They appealed to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Corps Commander Peshawar, GOC 9 Division, MNA Engineer Hamid Hussain, Commander 73 Brigade and Deputy Commissioner Fahad Wazir to provide immediate relief to the affected families and ensure payment of their compensation.