Peshawar High Court Seeks Clarity on Tirah Valley Displacement Amid Government Denials

The Peshawar High Court has directed both federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) authorities to submit detailed reports concerning the displacement of residents from Tirah Valley. This order follows statements from both governments denying authorization of any military operation in the region.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Faheem Wali, heard a petition addressing the alleged military action and the resulting hardships faced by local residents, including displacement amid severe cold and snowfall. Advocate General K-P Shah Faisal Utmankhel and Additional Attorney General Sanaullah represented the provincial and federal governments, respectively.

Both law officers informed the court that no formal approval for an operation in Tirah had been issued by their respective governments. The court has summoned tribal elders to verify whether displaced persons are receiving assistance at government-established relief camps and has ordered the immediate release of funds for affected residents. The hearing is adjourned until February 12.

The displacement has led to a clash of narratives between the federal and provincial governments. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that no military operation was being carried out in Tirah Valley, attributing the migration of people to routine and seasonal processes due to harsh weather and snowfall. He emphasized that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were more effective than large-scale operations and that the armed forces had ceased such operations years ago in favor of IBOs.

In contrast, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has opposed the ongoing operation and forced displacement in Tirah Valley, warning that decisions taken "behind closed doors" had once again plunged the region into suffering and instability. He highlighted that elderly people, women, and children were being uprooted in freezing winter conditions.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the evacuation began on January 10. So far, 11,400 families have been registered, with more than 10,000 relocated to safer areas, including Bara and Peshawar. Each family is being provided between Rs22,000 and Rs44,000 as transport assistance, along with a monthly housing allowance of Rs50,000. Heavy snowfall has stranded hundreds of families traveling in trucks, prompting large-scale rescue operations. Authorities reported that at least 2,200 people have been rescued from snowbound routes during the operation.

The court has also called the Relief Secretary to appear and directed both federal and provincial governments to submit detailed reports. The hearing was adjourned until February 12.