WANA: Protests over the targeted killings and killings of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activists rage on for the second day amid curfew-like situation in Wana, the headquarter of South Waziristan.
In order to defuse the situation, a 120-member jirga of the Ahmedzai tribe held another meeting with the political administration and security high ups on Tuesday; however, the meeting ended without any positive outcome. The jirga members met PTM leader Ali Wazir and other PTM activists earlier in the outskirts of Wana, a local journalist told Pakistan Today.
Ali Wazir reminded the jirga that the so-called ‘Peace Committee’ comprising of militants is not acceptable to PTM anymore, whereas officials in the administration are reluctant to make decisions regarding the future of peace committee, as it was established in according to an agreement in March 2007 last year.
On the other hand, curfew continued on the third consecutive day throughout Wana, headquarter of South Waziristan and its surrounding areas. Most people are confined to their homes whereas routine socio-economic businesses throughout South Waziristan are also on halt.
The tribesmen from different parts of South and North Waziristan, residing in Dera Ismael Khan, held an emergency Jirga at Haq Nawaaz Shahid Park late on Monday night. The participants denounced firing at armless and peaceful PTM activists at Wana and urged the government to take stern action against the people who were responsible.
After a prolonged discussion, the participants decided to arrange a sit-in in Wana on the tenth day of Eid ul Fitr. The scheduled sit-in will be attended by people from Ahmadzai Wazir, Utman Wazir, Dawar, Betani, Dotani, Sulaiman Khel. Sherani and others.
Tribesmen from all over the region are now fed up with the peace committee, allegedly comprising former militants. On February 5, 2017, armed men calling them from peace committee, headed by Misbahuddin ( brother of slain Abdullah Mehsud) shot dead a young lawyer from Ahmadzai Wazir tribe of Wana region in Dera Ismael Khan. In reaction, the tribesmen on the second day attacked the house and office of Misbahuddin.
A female member of PTM alleges that the peace committee is nothing but a body established for “extortion from innocent tribesmen”. She said that in presence of security forces there is no need for peace committees.
Meanwhile, the PTM activists and members from all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent tribal regions are also holding protests against Wana incidents. PTM activists arranged a rally in Hayatabad late on Monday night which continued till sehri. The participants chanted slogans against the government, peace committees, militants and even security forces. Similar protest rallies were arranged at Bannu, Bajaur and Swat.
