PESHAWAR: The elders of Akkakhel tribe of Khyber Agency have demanded of the government to take immediate steps for quick repatriation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and retrieve their land property from the influential people of Orakzai Agency to avert possible armed clash.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Mohammad Iqbal Afridi said that the land property ofAkkakhel tribe had been occupied by some influential people belonging to Orakzai Agency and they were not ready to vacate it.

He said that they would stage sit-in outside the residence of governor if authorities failed to resolve the issue till May 1.

The tribal elder, who is also a leader of PTI, said that residents of different tribal regions vacated their localities when military operation was launched against terrorists.

He said that repatriation process of Akkakhel tribe was slow.

The people, who returned earlier, grabbed properties of those, who were still living out of their villages, he added.

Mr Afridi said that voluntarily return of IDPs from Orakzai tribe of Firozkhel had initiated in June2016. He said that government was yet to make arrangements for repatriation of displaced members of Akkakhel tribe.

Following the repatriation, he claimed, people of Orakzai tribe occupied the lands of Akkakhel tribe due to close proximity with the area. He added that forests were also being cut down rapidly in their area.

Flanked by tribal elders including Ajab Khan, Haji Mehboob, Haji Shahmer Baz, Gul Mohammad and others, Mr Afridi alleged that people of Orakzai tribe of Firozkhel with support of local administration occupied their lands and cut the thick forests in their area.

`We want a peaceful solution to the issue to prevent avert law and order situation in the agency,` hesaid. He urged government and securityforces to ensure repatriation of the displaced families of Akkakhel so that they could protect their properties. He also demanded of the political administration to stop cutting of the forests in their area.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajab Khan said that government had directed all tribes to avoid taking action against each other on issues of properties till 2019.

He said that Orakzai tribe violated the directives and occupied their lands to create law and order situation in the tribal agency.

The tribal elders threatened to stage sit-in outside the residence of governorin Jhagra village and Khyber House in Peshawar if government failed to resolve the issue by May 1.