Shafi Jan, the Special Assistant for Information and Public Relations to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister, stated on Sunday that a large-scale military operation was planned in Tirah. He emphasized that his provincial government considered such an action “unconstitutional.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led KP government has consistently opposed such military operations in the province, leading to friction between the party and both the federal and establishment sectors. The latter accuses the PTI of providing sanctuary to militants.
Speaking on a Geo News program, Jan said, “We will never be part of this military operation; neither do we support it, nor have we been taken into confidence.” He criticized the federal government’s stance that people were displaced based solely on rumors and maintained that there had indeed been routine intelligence-based operations in Tirah. Instead, they faced a large-scale military intervention.
Jan further alleged that these actions constituted an “unconventional narrative war,” aimed at undermining KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s political standing. He announced plans for a tribal jirga on Sunday where people would testify directly. Jan termed the agreement signed by the 24-member committee, which agreed to displacement beforehand, as “forced.” He explained that Deputy Commissioner of Khyber District had signed the deal merely to assist the populace since it was clear they would be relocated.
Jan highlighted that the Chief Secretary and Inspector-General Frontier Corps had given approval for the operation. Moreover, he noted that PTI’s provincial cabinet approved Rs4 billion in aid for Tirah residents, yet federal government support for IDPs had been stagnant over the past three years.
Regarding the difficulty of relocation due to snowfall, Jan stated that 17,000 families needed assistance; 12,000 of them were registered. He emphasized that the KP government was calling a jirga to reveal all facts and address these issues directly with the people.
In contrast, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal dismissed any large-scale military operation in Tirah on Geo News. Instead, he attributed the displacement to deteriorating law and order conditions within the province. He pointed out that the federal government had previously addressed terrorism in KP but allowed militants’ return under PTI’s leadership.
Iqbal accused the PTI of shielding Fitna Al Khawarij (banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), claiming they wanted to give terrorists a free hand in the region. Finally, he criticized PTI for choosing between the interests of the state and its populace, thereby fostering division within KP.