LANDI KOTAL: Protest demo held against action in tribal areas
By Our Correspondent
LANDI KOTAL, March 23: Political and religious organizations in Khyber Agency on Tuesday organized protest demonstrations against the on going operation in Wana, South Waziristan.
The protest rally at Bara was organized under the auspices of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Khyber Agency chapter. The protest procession started from Dhandona and converged in front of the offices of political tehsildar, while chanting slogans against President Musharraf.
The precisionists were also carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding an immediate end to the Wana operation. Addressing the rally MNA from Bara Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman condemned Wana operation and demanded an immediate halt to it. He cautioned the government of a strong resistance from the tribesmen as they were in possession of all types of heavy and automatic weapons.
Maulana Abdul Hadi, a religious leader said that the Wana operation was initiated by President Musharraf to appease US government. He said that tribesmen were voluntary soldiers of Pakistan as they had guarded the country's frontiers without any remuneration for more than 50 years.
He urged the government to take tribal elders into confidence and resolve the current problem according to tribal customs and traditions. The protest rally was also addressed by Maulana Ahmad Khan JUI Amir Khyber Agency, Maulana Abdul Aziz JUI secretary information and Qari Mohammad Ibrahim.
Later, the protesters burnt the twin effigies of President Musharraf and US President Gorge Bush. Another local political organization of Bara, Khyber Union had on Tuesday organized a token huger strike camp at Minara chowk.
Khyber Union Chairman Bazar Gul told Dawn that his organization would organize similar hunger strike camps in all the tribal areas if operation in Wana was not stopped forthwith.
A similar demonstration was also organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami at Khyber Agency tehsil head quarter Landi Kotal on Tuesday morning. Addressing the demonstration Zar Noor Afridi, JI Fata Secretary-General alleged that Musharraf government had pitted the Pakistan army against its own people to appease his foreign masters.
They regretted that innocent tribesmen were being killed and arrested in the name of operation against so-called terrorists. The killing of the innocent tribesmen would be avenged, he threatened.
Muqtadir Shah, JI Landi Kotal Amir warned of an armed uprising by the tribesmen against the army if the operation in tribal areas was not immediately stopped. The gathering was also addressed by Abdur Rauf Shinwari, Sudher Afridi, Afrasiab Afridi and Banaras Khan.
