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| 06 June 2004 | Sunday | 17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
Tribes allow one-time search
WANA, June 5: Tribes in the Shakai region of South Waziristan have said they would let a tribal lashkar to search their houses but only on the condition that the exercise would not be repeated.
Shudiaki, Spirkai, Khuniakhel and Khojalkhel tribes of the Ahmadzai Wazir clan which inhibit the Shakai tribal region, about 17km west of the regional headquarters, Wana, told a tribal lashkar that they should not be subjected to house search again and again.
Shakai had long been considered as one of the suspected hideouts of foreign militants, believed to be in hundreds, and had seen tribal lashkar conducting house searches for them in the past.
"This thing should stop", a tribal jirga of local elders told the lashkar led by commander Allagai. "We can let you search our houses but this should be the last time. There should be no further searches either by the lashkar or any other force in future", the elders said.
"If you agree with us, we will let you do the search, otherwise, you should go back", the elders said.
The lashkar of roughly about 4,000 armed tribal volunteers, formed under the tribal lashkar, later returned to Wana.
Allagai said the lashkar would meet again on Sunday and re-launch its search of foreign militants in Sahakai area.
There was also some dispute, as some families had not given their men for the lashkar as per the tribal custom. Allagai warned that families who did not send their men for the lashkar would be fined Rs10,000 each.
Tribal observers however, remained pessimistic about the outcome of the tribal lashkar. The main feature of the day was the wedding of top militant, Nek Mohammad.
The 27-year-old tribal militant, who won amnesty from the government along with four other tribal comrades, had his second marriage with a local girl.
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