WANA (South Waziristan), Oct 22: The political administration of South Waziristan Agency in its crackdown against the tribesmen has arrested 14 people on Wednesday, officials said.

The authorities arrested 14 men of the Sperkai tribe from Wana under collective responsibility clause of 1940’s Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

The political authorities had launched operation against sympathisers of Al Qaeda in the agency after army troops and paramilitary forces killed eight suspects during a gun battle early this month. Two soldiers were also killed in the operation in Baghar village.

The officials said the political authorities had handed over all the suspects to a joint interrogation team. They said that operation would continue against the locals unless they surrender the alleged supporters of Al Qaeda and Taliban.

Meanwhile, the agency’s political agent, Mohammad Azam Khan, told reporters at his office that a tribal jirga would be held on Thursday to discuss the prevailing situation.