News of Baitullah’s death encourages IDPs to return

[LahoreEstate]

* Auto dealer says his business suffered badly, home not damaged
* 22 buses leave from Valika ground, 8 from Landhi, Quaidabad

By Fawad Ali Shah

KARACHI: The official but unconfirmed death news of Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud along with the reports that some militant groups are surrendering their arms to the military have given a sigh of relief to those who migrated from Swat and surrounding areas to Karachi in the aftermath of the operation, ‘Rah-e-Raast’ and are now revving up their machines to return to their homelands.

The internally displaced persons (IDPs) said they are receiving some positive signals regarding the law and order and military situation in the area from their relatives and hopes the killing of militant commander like Baitullah would further loosen the grip of extremists on Malakand division.

Feroz Khan, a resident of Janoo Khel area of Mingora city of District Swat said most of his family members who had migrated to Mardan were back to their homes.

“They say the situation is far better now and markets are open,” Khan, who was going back with his family of seven members, said.

He hoped the situation would not deteriorate again in his area.

Auto dealer: “Our home back in Mingora is not damaged, however our business has suffered badly,” Khan, who is an auto-dealer, said.

He hoped his children would restart their education as some schools have started working according to his information.

Palwasha, who migrated with his children to Karachi from Swanai area of Buner was also among those going back home.

“My husband works in Karachi so when the war started I, along with my children, migrated to Karachi,” the 40-year-old women, who is a mother of five, said. Palwasha, wearing a yellow Burqa, did not know who Baitullah was. “If he was one of the accomplices of the people who destroyed our areas then it is good that he has been killed,” she went on to say.

Ali Imran, 7, was happy for returning to his homeland. He said he enjoyed his stay in Karachi with his cousins.

However, Imran missed his school and teachers.

Provincial Minister of Labour Ameer Nawab Khan, Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh Rashid Rabbani and Special Assistant to CM on Media and Deputy Information Secretary of PPP Waqar Mehdi said goodbye to the IDPs of Malakand division at Valika Ground of SITE town.

Approximately, 1,500 individuals left for their homelands in 30 vehicles provided by the provincial government.

The provincial government also paid Rs 500 per family to the IDPS in order to facilitate their journey back home.

Buses: Twenty-two buses left from Valika ground whereas eight buses from Landhi, Quaidabad.

It may be remembered that approximately 40,000 IDPs migrated from Malakand Division to Karachi as the operation ‘Rah-e-Raast’ was launched by the government against militants.

Most of these IDPs opted to live with their relatives instead of living in the relief camps set up by the provincial government in the outskirts of Karachi.

Earlier, the provincial government in a high level meeting had announced that it would support the journey of IDPs back home.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_23