DERA GHAZI KHAN, March 21: The residents of South Waziristan suffered heavy casualties in the Wana operation, Jamaat-i-Islami general secretary Munawar Hasan said on Sunday.

"As many as 99 per cent causalities are of the local innocent people," he claimed at a press conference after attending a seminar arranged by JI workers at the party office here.

"American troops and FBI agents are also present in South Waziristan. The operation is being carried out on the direction of FBI agents," he alleged. The Jamaat leader said the rulers were out to appease their American masters. "Our army is fighting against its own people."

He demanded that new army chief should be appointed. He said the present regime had failed to solve the basic problems of the people. "Poverty rate in 1990 was 10 percent which has now increased to 36 percent."

To a question about the status granted to Pakistan by the US, he said it would spoil the sovereignty of the country. "Now the US would use us against our neighbours."