Tirah Evacuation Nears Completion as Thousands of Families Displaced
Bara
The large-scale evacuation from Tirah Valley in Khyber district is nearing completion, with authorities confirming that about 95 per cent of the displacement process has now been completed.
According to local administration officials, more than 26,000 affected families have been formally registered, marking a major step in one of the region’s largest recent humanitarian operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Registration Reaches Key Milestone
Assistant Commissioner Bara, Talha Rafiq, told The Express Tribune that officials have registered a total of 26,962 families at multiple designated points across Bara. These include Painda China, where 11,472 families were recorded; Nawi in Malakdin Khel with 5,079 families; Qambarabad with 2,412; Al-Haj Market with 4,120; and Takia Center Qambar Khel with 3,879 families.
Authorities are conducting biometric verification through NADRA, while private telecom companies are issuing SIM cards to ensure accurate records and prevent duplication or fraud.
Financial Support and Verification Underway
Officials have already provided registered families with transportation assistance. Meanwhile, authorities expect additional financial support to begin shortly.
At the same time, a verification committee continues to review registrations to identify and remove non-genuine claimants. Officials said some individuals who are not permanent residents of Tirah Valley attempted to register improperly. They stressed that the administration remains focused on ensuring that genuine victims receive timely and fair assistance, while irregularities will not be tolerated.
Political Engagement and Tribal Concerns
The evacuation gained national attention in recent weeks due to rising security concerns in the rugged Tirah region. In response, a national jirga convened by former federal minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi brought together political leaders and social figures to discuss the crisis.
The jirga endorsed agreements reached with a 24-member Tirah committee and urged both provincial and federal governments to address registration, rehabilitation, and compensation issues without delay. Participants also warned that if authorities fail to honor commitments, including a promised return timeline, Afridi tribes may organize their own return to the valley.
Further Displacement Planned
Meanwhile, authorities have begun preparations for the displacement of the Aka Khel tribe from areas stretching from Sere Kandao to Shadalay. Bara Tehsil Chairman Mufti Kafil Afridi said more than 4,000 people are expected to relocate during the coming week, while officials finalize registration points for this phase.
Growing Criticism and Protests
Criticism has intensified from political groups and affected communities over the registration process. Awami National Party (ANP) district president Abdul Razzaq Afridi accused the provincial government of mismanagement, alleging that a committee based at Khyber House has rejected nearly half of all registrations during verification.
He argued that the process relies heavily on polio campaign data, which may exclude legitimate resident families without children or with incomplete records, ultimately denying them assistance.
In response, the Tirah Victims Movement has emerged as a unified platform representing political parties, social activists, traders, doctors, and community leaders. Protesters have established a camp outside the Bara Press Club, citing staff shortages and limited registration counters as major causes of delays. They have called on authorities to deploy additional personnel and expand facilities to speed up the process.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE