1232 Mehsud families returning to SWA complain of severe hardships, Mehsud Maliks demand permission to media to their areas

1232 Mehsud families returning to SWA complain of severe hardships, Mehsud Maliks demand permission to media to their areas

By Saleem Mehsud

TANK, July 02: Around 1232 internally displaced families returned to the places of their origin in South Waziristan till Saturday as the political administration and the Pak Army assisted their return after restoration of peace in the Mahsud-inhibited areas of South Waziristan Agency after military operation Rah-e-Nejat.

Official sources said that returnees included residents of Srarogha, Ghanra Hibatkhel, Hanrai Tangi, Kotkai, Murghiband, Spinkai Raghzai and the surrounding areas in South Waziristan Agency, the previous strong hold of Mehsud Taliban loyal to slain Taliban Commander Baitullah Mehsud who was killed in 2009 US drone strike.

But the returnees are facing immense difficulties back to their native areas. Some of the repatriated families who had visited their hometown in the early repatriation phase launched by the government informed on condition of anonymity that government officials were claiming to have facilitated the locals but these claims were not true.

Malik Janez Ishangi said that foreign funded local NGO was giving ration to the locals and single tent to each family. “Government has not yet fulfilled the promise of giving Rs 25,000 in cash to each family,” the Malik of Mehsud tribe remarked.

Malik Mirbat Khan said that we were returning to flattened homes which were completely destroyed in the military operation and government did not provide any compensation for reconstruction of the destroyed houses which the locals are unable to rebuild.

Mirbat Khan said that health facilities were equal to none, adding that only one doctor for few hours come to Kotakai area with few tablets and syrups which were inadequate to meet the demands of the patients.

The entire area has no medical store, the Malik hailing from Kotkai complained and said that schools buildings were completely destroyed and government has not yet reopened even a single school for the children in the terror hit area. “Our area has nothing for the youth jobs which the government claimed to have created for the locals,” the Malik added.

Another local identified as Sikander said that everyone repatriated to the native town was busy in separating stones, mud and material of roofs of their destroyed houses and waiting for the government relief to start reconstruction of their destroyed houses.

Without mentioning name of the Pak-Army officer in Kotkai area, Sikandar told that army officer called all the locals of Kotkai for a meeting and informed them that at the moment government has not disbursed any amount for the reconstruction of the houses and locals have to wait.

The tribal elders and locals of the SWA have demanded the government to allow media to the area in order to give true picture of the insurgent-hit SWA as that would enable the government to see the devastation and extend the much needed assistance for the poor IDPs who suffered immensely for the national cause.

On the other hand local officials said that a high-tech computer laboratory has been set up with the help of Pak-Army and political administration while various opportunities are being created to generate jobs for the returnees.

The latest phase of the IDPs repatriation to South Waziristan was launched on June 28 and ended on Saturday, July 2, 2011.

The displaced families were provided free transport and were provided security by the 55-Brigrade of the Pakistan Army along with the assistance of the Political Administration South Waziristan.

Talking to reporters, the officials of the political administration said the mobile hospital arrangement has been made for the IDPs in the area with the help of the Governor’s Secretariat and the facility was well-equipped to provide effective treatment to the ailing people.

They added that the medical staffs including lady doctors and paramedics have been deployed with the mobile hospital to provide medical cover to the repatriated families in South Waziristan.