Pakistan High Court Orders Aid for Displaced Tirah Valley Residents Amid Operation Dispute
The Peshawar High Court has mandated the immediate release of funds for residents displaced from Tirah Valley and summoned tribal elders to assess the adequacy of government assistance,as a dispute continues between federal and provincial authorities over the nature and authorization of operations in the region.
PESHAWAR – A deepening crisis in Pakistan’s Tirah Valley has prompted judicial intervention, with the Peshawar High Court stepping in to address the plight of thousands of displaced families. The court’s actions come as both the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governments publicly distanced themselves from authorizing any large-scale military operation, despite a mass evacuation of residents.
During a hearing on Friday, a two-member bench comprised of Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Faheem Wali heard a petition detailing the hardships faced by Tirah Valley residents, including displacement exacerbated by severe cold and snowfall. Representing the respective governments, K-P Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel and Additional Attorney General Sanaullah both affirmed that no formal approval for an operation in Tirah had been issued by their administrations.
“Residents are being forced to leave their homes due to the situation,” argued Barrister Saud Javed, counsel for the petitioners, “but it remains unclear who authorized the operation and whether any approval was obtained from the relevant assemblies.”
The court responded by issuing a notice to the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), requesting a report within one week. Critically,the court ordered the immediate release of funds to support affected residents and scheduled a future hearing to include testimony from tribal elders,who will verify whether displaced individuals are receiving adequate assistance at government-established relief camps. The relief secretary was also directed to appear before the court, and both federal and provincial governments were instructed to submit detailed reports on the situation. The hearing has been adjourned until february 12.
The situation in Tirah Valley is marked by notable friction between the federal and K-P governments. While the federal government maintains that only small-scale, intelligence-based operations against militants are underway – asserting that a mass evacuation is not required – the K-P government vehemently rejects this claim.
According to the PDMA, the evacuation began on January 10, and as of Friday, 11,400 families have been registered as displaced, with over 10,000 relocated to safer areas, including Bara and Peshawar. This represents a significant humanitarian challenge as winter conditions worsen.
Adding to the complexity, K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has publicly opposed the ongoing operation and the resulting displacement, warning that decisions made “behind closed doors” have once again destabilized the region and caused immense suffering. In a video message released on Tuesday, CM Afridi stated that “extremely harsh conditions are once again being imposed on Tirah and the people are suffering the severe consequences of decisions taken behind closed doors.”
Defence Minister khawaja Asif, though, offered a contrasting perspective on Tuesday, stating that no military operation was being conducted in Tirah Valley, characterizing the population movement as a routine and seasonal response to harsh weather and snowfall. This statement followed days of public disagreement between federal and provincial officials regarding who authorized the evacuation process after hundreds of residents preemptively left their homes fearing military action against terrorists.
The conflicting narratives and the court’s intervention underscore the urgent need for clarity and coordinated action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Tirah Valley. The court’s summons of tribal elders represents a crucial step towards ensuring accountability and verifying that aid is reaching those who need it moast.
Here is a link to a video message from CM Afridi regarding the situation: https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/PaK4PGWZpD
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