PESHAWAR: Hundreds of residents of Tirah Valley have vacated their homes due to heavy snowfall and an ongoing operation in the tribal district, prompting a public exchange of criticism between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, said on Sunday that residents were “forced” to leave their homes, while Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal questioned the reasons behind the displacement.
Speaking on Geo News’ programme Naya Pakistan, Iqbal clarified that the federal government had not issued any directive or appeal for evacuation in Tirah. He stressed that linking the evacuation to the armed forces amounted to deliberate misinformation.
“The KP government must explain the situation. Law and order falls under the provincial government’s jurisdiction, and the federal government has no involvement in the ongoing operation,” he said. Iqbal also alleged that the PTI-led provincial government appeared sympathetic to extremist elements and was running campaigns against state institutions.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed the remarks, stating that associating the evacuation with the military was misleading and factually incorrect.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Afridi emphasized that residents of Tirah Valley were compelled to leave due to circumstances beyond the provincial government’s control. He warned that if the ongoing operation was not halted within the next two to three days, the provincial government would devise its own strategy.
Provincial government spokesperson Shafi Jan dismissed the federal claim regarding the release of Rs4 billion for displaced families as “highly ridiculous.” He said timely relief had been provided, reiterating that residents were compelled to leave due to the operation.
Heavy snowfall has blocked the Miraban–Tirah Valley Road, while other routes across KP, including Kaghan-Naran, Battal, and Lowari Tunnel, remain closed. Rescue 1122 officials reported that 103 personnel are conducting emergency operations, having so far rescued 65 stranded individuals in 25 vehicles. Snow clearance efforts are underway in Buner, Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir, and Kolai-Palas.
The evacuation from Tirah began on January 9, ahead of a planned operation expected to conclude within two months, with rehabilitation and return of residents scheduled to start from April 5, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).