PESHAWAR: The Qaumi Watan Party has expressed concern over the displacement of people from Khyber Agency and called for opening registration points so they could be eligible to get shelter, ration and other items of basic need.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, QWP Fata chairman Asad Afridi advocate said that a large number of families had fled their localities due to the fresh military operation in Khyber Agency, and they were facing serious problems due to non-availability of facilities.

He said that the families were facing immense difficulties as the government and Fata Disaster Management Authority were yet to provide any proper shelter facility to the displaced people.

Mr Afridi said that the tribesmen, political leaders, and relevant stakeholders had not been taken on board prior to launch of the fresh military assault `Khyber -1`, in Bara tehsil.

He said that the displaced people, particularly children, women and elderly, were facing immense difficulties while fleeing their area.

`The displaced persons have been facing difficulties in arriving at Jamrud, Orakzai Agency and Peshawar due to imposition of curfew and closure of roads,` regretted Mr Afridi. Asad Afridi demanded of the government to establish registration points where the IDP families could enroll their names for availing facilities.

The QWP leader said that people of Khyber Agency had been confronting difficulties during the last three four years due to military offensives against militants, resulting in migration of more than 1.5 million people from the tribal region.

He urged the government to announce a comprehensive package for the displaced families on the pattern of IDPs of Swat. QWP Khyber Agency chairman Haji Syed Rasaan, Bara chief Ajab Khan Afridi, and other tribal leaders were also present on the occasion.Bureau Report