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PESHAWAR, Feb 01 (APP): The grand peace jirga held in Khyber, under the supervision of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, rejected the ambiguity and misinformation being spread regarding the displacement of residents of Tirah.
Addressing the Jirga, the Chief Minister welcomed its decisions and announced that consultative jirgas would be convened in other tribal districts prior to proceeding to Islamabad, ensuring that the collective opinion of all affected areas is presented.
He added that a joint Grand Jirga comprising all tribal districts would subsequently be held to finalize the future course of action.
The Chief Minister made it clear that decisions taken behind closed doors would not be accepted, and that this position would be firmly conveyed.
He reiterated that there would be no compromise on the rights of the province and its people, emphasizing that no amount of wealth could influence his conscience.
Muhammad Sohail Afridi said that the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had shown marked improvement from 2018 to 2022.
He remarked that despite the continued sacrifices rendered by tribal people for Pakistan, they are being subjected to false propaganda, terming this a mockery of the tribal population.
He rejected the misleading impression regarding the allocation of Rs 4 billion for the affectees of Tirah, clarifying that this amount is being provided by the provincial government from its own resources.
He said that promises made to internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not been fulfilled, while the provincial government has so far disbursed over Rs 7 billion from its own resources.
He added that Rs 52 billion in IDP dues remain unpaid, and a total of Rs 4,758 billion is still outstanding to the province.
The Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Chief Minister Relief Account for the affectees and directed that the registration process be expedited to ensure that no affected family faces hardship. He also announced visits to other tribal districts, emphasizing that all tribes have made unparalleled sacrifices for Pakistan.
Muhammad Sohail Afridi ssid that certain elements are displeased with his appointment as Chief Minister because they oppose the full integration of the tribal population into the national mainstream.
He reaffirmed that tribal people are educated, patriotic, and law-abiding citizens, and that the struggle for their rights would continue strictly within the framework of the Constitution and the law.
The Chief Minister also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the recent incidents of terrorism in Balochistan, strongly condemned the attacks, and affirmed that the provincial government stands in complete solidarity with the families of the martyrs.