Jirga demands govt to ensure facilities in Bara

BARA: A grand jirga of the Sipah tribe held in upper Bara has demanded that the government provide all necessary facilities, as they have been deprived of them for the last two years.

They stated that thousands of families from different tribes had been relocated to Peshawar and other safe areas when military operations were launched in upper Bara.The speakers highlighted that residents have faced numerous problems upon returning to their native areas.

They added that the tribal people of upper Bara have seen their infrastructure, including homes, hujras, markets, and farms, destroyed due to prolonged militancy.“The government prioritises providing education to the nation’s children, especially tribal children, but no school has been built so far,” said Turab Ali, a social activist. He added that tribal children were being deprived of their basic right to education.

He added that local people had been carrying water from the river on their heads and animals.“There has been no drinking water scheme established in the last two years, and local people have been deprived of clean drinking water,” Turab Ali said.

He added that neither the government nor non-governmental organisations have built a bridge over the River Bara, forcing local residents to suffer severe difficulties crossing the river during heavy floods.

Turab Ali stated that farmers have been deprived of modern farming practices as the government has not built water channels, leaving the land barren.He said the government has established markets for affected people in all tribes and handed them over in upper Bara, but the Sipah tribe has been left out.

“Due to the lack of interest in solving these problems by government institutions, anxiety and frustration are spreading among the people,” said another elder, Qazi Waris.He explained that the government has treated the Sipah tribe like a stepmother and has not provided basic rights to those affected by militancy.

“Neither a market has been built for the Sipah tribe, nor have water channels been paved for the farmers to adopt modern farming,” he said, adding that no connecting bridge has been built over the River Bara and no drinking water scheme has been started.

He added that the government should allocate specific quota admissions for children in cadet colleges.Qazi Waris stated that a survey of the destroyed infrastructure was conducted in all tribes of upper Bara, but the Sipah tribe was excluded. He demanded MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi to visit upper Bara and take steps to solve the problems.The speakers threatened that if their problems are not resolved, the Sipah tribe of upper Bara will be forced to protest.