Amid allegations of financial irregularities and governance failures in Tirah Valley, the Bara Political Alliance has announced the convening of a 24-member representative tribal jirga on Saturday, January 31, to deliberate on the alleged misappropriation of funds released for the conflict-affected region.
A member of the Bara Political Alliance said the jirga would focus on the reported misuse of Rs4 billion earmarked for Tirah’s rehabilitation, development, and relief following years of militancy, displacement, and security operations. The jirga is expected to be attended by representatives of the district administration, local communities, and tribal elders.
According to the alliance, the jirga will examine allegations of corruption, politically motivated distribution of funds, and administrative injustices that have, it claims, deepened grievances among the local population. Participants will also work toward a joint and consensual framework aimed at addressing these issues through institutional and lawful means.
Organizers said the jirga would formally document concerns regarding what they described as persistent provincial government neglect and administrative indifference toward Tirah, a region that has remained strategically sensitive due to its proximity to militant infiltration routes and its history of counterterrorism operations.
In parallel, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) elected representatives are preparing for a political gathering scheduled for February 1 in Jamrud. The event is being promoted as a “jirga”, a description disputed by local political and tribal actors, who maintain that it is a conventional political rally rather than a traditional consultative forum.
Political observers and alliance members argue that branding a political rally as a jirga risks diluting the traditional conflict-resolution mechanism, particularly when complex security-linked issues such as post-militancy rehabilitation, resource allocation, and governance failures are involved.
They warn that repeatedly politicizing Tirah’s unresolved grievances could further complicate an already fragile security environment, where governance gaps and public distrust have historically been exploited by militant and criminal networks.
Security officials said the situation is being closely monitored, with law enforcement maintaining vigilance in Bara and Jamrud. Routine security measures, including coordination with district authorities and intelligence monitoring, are in place to prevent any law-and-order situation during upcoming gatherings.
