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| 31 May 2004 | Monday | 11 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
6,000 shops in Wana closed down
WANA, May 30: Authorities in South Waziristan have closed down the biggest bazaar in the regional headquarters as part of an economic blockade of Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen to pressure them into giving up their support to foreign militants.
Frontier Corps troops in an action on Saturday night sealed Wana Bazaar that serves as the business centre for the biggest tribal region in the country. Around 6,000 shops of daily use items were closed down and shopkeepers told to stay away from the market.
Frontier Corps soldiers ordered transporters and passengers present in the bazaar early on Sunday to move to a nearby village. All roads leading to the bazaar were closed down and troops took control of the area, that wore a deserted look.
The action came a day after the authorities seized dozens of tribal notables and impounded their vehicles under the Frontier Crimes Regulation. The collective responsibility clause of the law empowers authorities to take action against an entire erring tribe.
The authorities also closed down private hospitals and clinics situated in the bazaar. Khasadar Force, a paid tribal outfit, continued raids on houses to seize Ahmadzai tribesmen.
The arrests caused harassment forcing men to confine themselves to their homes. The action came following months of talks, jirgas and a tribal lashkar to flush out foreign militants, believed to be in hundreds, in the region.
A 'rapprochement' between the military and the five most wanted tribesmen on April 24 in Shakai, that won them pardon in return for a pledge to remain peaceful, collapsed when the government insisted that they must get foreign militants registered as part of the deal.
The militants denied this part of the agreement. The closure of the bazaar pushed up prices of essential commodities as fears of an impending military action caused a shopping spree and attempts at hoarding foodstuff.
The military continued to deploy its forces on high vantage pointswhile gunship helicopters continued to hover above. A jirga that was expected to meet on Sunday could not be convened, as members fearful of their arrest did not turn up.
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