The Beginning
The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) include seven Agencies viz Bajaur, Orakzai, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan, and the tribal areas adjoining Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and Tank districts. Article 247 of constitution of Pakistan provides for governance of these areas in a manner altogether different from the rest of Pakistan. The tribal areas are administered by the Governor NWFP as per directions given by the President of Pakistan. No Act passed by parliament applies to the tribal areas except to the extent permitted by the president. The president has the power to make laws for the tribal areas in respect of any matter within the legislative competence of parliament.
The president can also make regulations, with respect to any matter, for the peace and good governance of these areas. Neither the Supreme Court nor the High Court can exercise any jurisdiction in relation to the tribal areas unless the parliament by law provides otherwise. There is, therefore, no constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights for the citizens of FATA as enjoyed by citizens in the rest of Pakistan. With an estimated population of about 3.5 million, FATA have 12 representatives in the national assembly and 8 in the senate. These representatives can make laws for the rest of Pakistan but not for the areas they represent.
The administrative set-up includes, at Islamabad, the ministry of states and frontier regions and, at Peshawar, the FATA civil secretariat under the Governor NWFP. The governing law is the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) which is administered through the tribal jirgas and not through the courts of law. Responsibility for the crime committed by a member of a tribe is the collective responsibility of that tribe which then proceeds to punish its own offending member.
There is no statistical documentation of poverty levels in FATA. However, studies conducted by the Asian Development Bank in 2006 reveal that drinking water is in short supply throughout the region, infant and child mortality rates are higher than in the rest of Pakistan, education facilities are deficient in most villages and practically non-existent for girls, literacy rates are the lowest in the country and health facilities are substandard at best. The ADB study estimates that 60 percent of the people in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber live below the poverty line and that the female literacy rate in FATA as a whole is about 3 percent.
Trauma Commences…
The current disturbance commenced in 2002 in South Waziristan when Pakistan military launched operations against the militants. From North Waziristan disturbance spread into Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies, as also into the frontier regions of Bannu, Kohat and Swat districts. In Kurram Agency the violence was sectarian in nature leaving hundreds of Sunnis and Shias dead in its wake.
Trouble in Bajaur Agency
Bajaur Agency in FATA is tribal territory north of Peshawar that borders on Afghanistan's Kunar Province to the west. The area of Bajaur is 590 square miles. Smallest of the agencies in FATA, it has a hilly terrain. The population or Bajaur Agency is 700,000. The headquarters of the Agency administration is located in the town of Khar.
There are three main tribes in Bajaur: Utman Khel, Tarkalanri, and Mamund. The largest tribe is Utman Khel, judged by population or territory. The Utman Khel is at the southeast of Bajaur, while Mamund are at the southwest, and the Tarkani are at the north of Bajaur. Its border with Afghanistan's Kunar province makes it of strategic importance to Pakistan and the region.
Thousands of military men backed by heavy artillery, gunship helicopters, tanks and armour vehicles have launched a full-blown operation in Bajaur Agency. Military operations by Pakistani forces, air-strikes by US-led forces from neighboring Afghanistan has created chaos which is deepening the horrific conditions of life of local people. Military forces have been on the assault since summer across the agency. In result of this operation hundreds of people have been killed, crops and fertile lands have been destroyed, houses and shops were razed to the earth and thousands of people have fled to neighboring districts of Dir Lower, Malakand Agency, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and Haripur districts of NWFP. Thousands others has left for other parts of Pakistan. It is expected that 2000 families have found shelter in Rawalpindi and Islamabad districts while many others have gone to Karachi. Remaining people are stranded in the war zone and has nothing to do with their fate.
Mass migration of the panicked tribal people has resulted emergency situation not only in Bajaur Agency but also in the neighboring district Dir Lower, Peshawar and Charsadda.
Kurram Agency
Kurram tribal agency is one of the eight agencies of FATA in Pakistan. Geographically it coversKurram Valleywhich is a beautiful valley in the northwestern part of Pakistan neighboring Afghanistan.
Until the year 2000, when divisions were abolished, Kurram District used to be part of the Peshawar Division of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The name Kurram comes from the river Kurram which flows along the valley. The valley in the north is surrounded by White Mountains (KOH-E-SAFED) which also forms the natural border with Afghanistan.
The Kurram River drains the southern flanks of the KOH-E-SAFED mountain range, and enters the Indus plains north of Bannu. It flows west to east and crosses the PAKTIA Province Afghan-Pakistan border about 80 km southwest of Jalalabad, and joins the Indus near Isa Khel after a course of more than 320 km (200 miles). The district has an area of 3,310 km² (1,278 sq. miles); the population according to the 1998 about 500,000. The language of the tribe is Pashto. Shia and Sunni sects are inhabitants of this agency.
Disturbance in Kurram Agency
Kurram Agency is going through a terrible time on account of peace crisis and administrative neglect. The area has been suffering from intermittent sectarian violence for years but since the current riots in the latter half of the year 2007, Kurram Agency has been torn by war as well as by the lack of care from the government and even mainstream media in the country.
‘Our place has been cut off from the rest of the country and we have been forced to live an isolated life’ said a local resident who revealed that the roads leading to and from Kurram to other parts of the province (NWFP) have been closed for transportation since November 2007. Daily life necessities have to be supplied from across the border (Afghanistan); most of the agency area being also left without electricity, the residents are practically living a ‘dark life’.
Besides sectarian violence and general neglect of the Kurram Agency by the authorities, there seems to be a lack of understanding between the government and the local population. An instance of this was reported earlier this summer when a 100 member gathering (JIRGA), consisting members of both the major sects (Shia and Sunni), was arrested by the government authorities without any obvious reason; only to be released later. This kind of misunderstanding is getting in the way of peace efforts made by tribesmen and local elders to restore normal life in the area.
Clashes were sectarian in nature but have resulted in creation of a human tragedy. People of Kurram agency are suffering because of continuous violence, unavailability of food and other needs of human life.
Mohmand Agency
The Mohmand Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan created in 1951 that comprises of seven Tehsils.
- Anbar
- Pandyali
- Ekkagund
- Lakaro
- Halimzai
- Baizai
- Prang Ghar
Mohmand Tribes were administered by the Deputy Commissioner based in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. However it was not until 1973 that the headquarters of the Mohmand agency were moved from Peshawar to Ekkagund. Now, the permanent agency headquarters is at Ghalanai, deep in the Mohmand agency.
The disturbance because of military operations in Pakistan's tribal region is no longer confined to the North and South Waziristan regions along the Afghan border. As some time passed this disturbance found their roads deep in the erstwhile peaceful Mohmand tribal agency in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region.
Trouble mounts in Mohmand Agency
People of Mohmand Agency are facing almost the same situation as of Bajaur agency. Military operation and continuous attacks by NATO forces in Lakaro, Ambar, Pandyali and Ekkagund Tehsils in Mohmand Agency created panic and tragic conditions for local inhabitants. Hundreds of men, women and children have been killed in result. They were forced to leave their homes and migrate to comparatively peaceful areas of district Charsadda and Peshawar adjacent to their agency. This resulted in a human crisis in these areas. Kind hearts and helping hands of their respective areas found no solution of this terrible situation. As time passes, situation is worsening. Bitter winter is on and poor IDPs are on the verge of a smash.
Another horrific aspect of this trauma is threat to the peace of Peshawar because of its location, which is only 30 minutes from the border and reports are beginning to emerge of insurgent activity extending toward the NWFP capital. In an alarming development earlier this month military movements in Warsak area of Peshawar and rumors of launching military operation have griped the city in fear.
Thousands of IDPs from Mohmand Agency has entered the district in search of peace and shelter and toll still increasing.
Due to continuous curfew and blockade of main roads and bridges in the troubled areas, people are crossing to district Peshawar through River Kabul by boats. IDPs are arriving at Warsak, Shaghali, Pyari, Nelawey and other localities of District Peshawar in U/C Jogani, U/C Ghari Sherdad and U/C Mathra.
Affectees of Mohmand Agency are now using another track for reaching peaceful areas of NWFP & FATA because of curfew and blockades of roads. They use to travel into Afghanistan and then cross border at Torkham area for entering again into Pakistan. Hundreds of families have been reached Khyber Agency so far and toll is still increasing.
Till now about 1200 families have arrived only to district Peshawar mainly sheltering in UC Jogani.
People are also traveling to Shaheed Banda, Shabqadar and other adjacent areas of district Charsadda by foot walking for hours through mountains. About 1500 families have arrived in district Charsadda.
Dozens of civilians have been injured during the operation. They were shifted and admitted in different hospitals of Charsadda and Peshawar. Hundreds of thousands of people are stranded in the war zone and has no alternative for shelter.
Darra Adam Khel
Dilemma of Afridis of Darra Adam Khel
Military operation started in Darra Adam Khel in mid of year 2007 which was later extended to Tirah valley of Khyber Agency. Heavy contingents of army and paramilitary troops were deployed and curfew was imposed for a long time. This operation, in search of so called militants, has destroyed the peaceful life of Afridis. Many of tribesmen, women and children were killed and hundreds of them were forced to leave their homes in search for peace and shelter in nearby areas of district Peshawar, Kohat and Orakzai Agency.
Lasting impact of crises in NWFP & FATA
Military operations against armed opposition groups in Pakistan have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in recent months. This operation caused the Asia’s biggest new displacement in 2007, with between 0.7 million people forced to flee their homes towards the end of the year. Few people re-turned as they noticed a little calm but they found their homes and property destroyed so they are also facing a life of refugees.
There are reports of children dying due to cold weather and non availability of food and life saving drugs. After reaching Tank, Banu and DI Khan districts of NWFP many IDPs of North and South Waziristan agencies were reportedly living in open fields under the roof of sky. Some displaced families sought shelter with relatives outside Waziristan and other areas after the region were sealed off by the army in January. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), some 190,000 people have been displaced just from Bajaur Agency.
As a whole, roughly estimating 0.7 million people have been effected and at least fifteen thousand families have shifted from their original places.
Where IDPs found the Shelter …
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced because of emergency situation created by military operations in north-western Pakistan. Majority of the IDPs preferred to stay with their relatives and friends in the settled districts so exact figures are hard to found but according to government figures, there are now an estimated 90,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in NWFP. Another 90,000 are believed to be displaced in Swat in northern NWFP, based on a recent government assessment. In addition, some 84,000 people were displaced by floods in August.
In fact no verified and accurate information in this regard are available. Non-government organizations and independent sources are insisting that the number of IDPs is far greater than the revealed figures. If government figures believed to be correct, even than people of NWFP are facing a human crises. All districts close to tribal belt of FATA and Swat district of NWFP are hosting thousands of IDPs.
Peshawar, the capital City of NWFP, hosting thousands of Afghan refugees for the last three decades, is currently the main destination for Internally Displaced Persons of FATA and NWFP.
Kacha Ghari Camp of Peshawar is situated at the bank of Peshawar-Afghan main road, hosted thousands of Afghan Refugees for a long time and recently vacated by them is now become a temporary shelter for 11000 registered IDPs from Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies. Toll is still increasing as families from different affected regions are approaching for shelter.
Due to continuous curfew and blockade of main roads and bridges in the troubled areas, people are crossing to district Peshawar through River Kabul by boats. IDPs are arriving at Warsak, Shaghali, Pyari, Nelawey and other localities of District Peshawar in U/C Jogani, U/C Ghari Sherdad and U/C Mathra.
Dir Lower is adjacent to Bajaur Agency. When crises began, thousands of affectees flooded into Dir lower in search of peace, food and shelter. Government department responsible for accommodating IDPs have established only four camps where just a few hundred of IDPs can found shelter. Thousands others are hosted by non-governmental organizations and local people.
In district Mardan, there is only one IDP camp in Sheikh Yaseen Town in which 201 families or 1,336 individuals including 678 children less than 5 years of age are living. However, the numbers are increasing day by day. According to the Relief Commissioner, NWFP, there are 4,191 families or 35,158 people are living with host families (relatives/friends) in district Mardan.
The neighboring district of Mohmand Agency, Charsadda has received thousands of IDPs from Mohmand Agency as well as from Bajaur Agency.
IDP camps in district Charsadda has been established at Government Teacher Training School, Palosa in which 476 families or 3,106 individuals including 639 children less than 5 years of age are living as of 8th Sept 2008. According to the Government, there are 754 families or 4,524 individuals are living with host families in district Charsadda. The camp population is also increasing day by day but the figure of IDPs residing with relatives or making arrangements for themselves are hard to count. It is a fact that number of such IDPs are also in thousands. A carefully collected figure of IDPs of Mohmand Agency by officials is touching to 100,000.
Displaced people used to travel to Shabqadar and other adjacent areas of district Charsadda by foot due to blockade of roads and bridges.
Hundreds of IDPs from Bajaur have been asked to shift to Government High School Pir Piai Nowshera Relief Camp exclusively set up for the victims. Thousands of people have been accommodated by local people and thousands of others are looking for shelter.
In Swabi district, there is no formal IDP camp established by government but 1,164 families or 9,310 IDPs are living with host families in this district.
As crises begun in North & South Waziristan Agencies, thousands of people left their homes and migrated to nearby districts of Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat. They are residing in temporary shelters, tents and along with their relatives. There is a little calm now in troubled agencies of North and South Waziristan but displaced people are facing worst time of their lives. Military operations are still continued and IDPs of southern districts are very much worried about their future.
Except above mentioned areas, IDPs have spread through the country wherever they found a little hope of peace and shelter. Other prominent regions, where IDPs are residing now are District Harripur in Hazara Division, District Rawalpindi in Punjab province and Karachi in Sindh province.
Except above mentioned relief camps established by government there are thousands of IDPs hosted by Non-governmental organizations, relatives of respective families and personally arranged shelters. Number of IDPs is increasing day by day as military operations are continued. As time passes miseries of these homeless people are multiplying as they don’t have any source of income and proper shelter. In these circumstances bitter coldness of upcoming winter will turn their lives more miserable.
Recommendations for a long lasting solution
Military operations should be halted immediately. Militant groups must stop their activities in the larger interest of common people.
For finding acceptable solutions for all stakeholders, negotiations should be started.
Military and militant must make it sure that during their assaults common people and their properties will be safe. Both of them must restrain from harassing common people.
Military must be careful in imposing curfew because it badly disturb lives of common people. If it is to be imposed, timings and duration of curfew must be advertised publicly.
IDPs should be provided better living facilities in their respective residents either in camps or on other places.
Basic health facilities, especially for women and children, should be provided to every Internally Displaced Family.
Displaced children should be provided with ample facilities of education otherwise their precious time will lost.
Facilities for mental health care should be arranged for IDPs.
IDPs should be provided with all possible facilities for going back to their homes and rehabilitating their life.
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