PESHAWAR: Elders from Kurram Agency have expressed anguish over the government`s failure to rehabilitate them as they have been suffering due to military operations and large-scale displacements.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, the tribesmen said that the people had been kept deprived of their rights since the creation of the country, and their miseries had been compounded due to military operations.

The elders said that the worst affected were the villages of Alisherzai, Masozi, Tatang Hanan, Zohmisht, Tatang Darra, Murghan, Kotki, Navi Kili, Mir Du Tung, Jaba, Mela, Jara, Jugai, Drasta Mela, Dugar, Topu, Shiwzan and Nek Ziarat.

Speaking on the occasion, Aziz-ur-Rehman Khan Ali Sherzai from lower Kurram said the government had never paid serious attention to-wards the development of Fata, and that was why the problems were increased manifold with passage of time.

In the current situation, he said every resident of Fata had suffered heavy financial losses and expected the government to compensate them, but to no avail.

`We want the government to spend all the funds allocated for Fata in the budget and given by donor agencies on the development of the region, particularly on rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons.

Mr Rehman pointed out that tribal people were in dire need of health and education facilities as the existing infrastructure was unable to meet their needs.

He asked the government to announce 20 per cent increase in the education and health budgets for Fata.

He also asked for provision of scholarships for students and jobs for unemployed youth, besides approving gas project for the tribal areas.