04 July 2004	Sunday	15 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

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WANA, July 3: Tribal leaders and volunteers on Saturday gave a two-day deadline to two sub-tribes of the Ahmadzai Wazir in the South Waziristan region to hand over two wanted militants by Tuesday or face a collective action.

Informed sources said that about 300 tribal volunteers had suspended a search operation for the arrest of two wanted militants Mohammad Jaived and Maulvi Abbas in Shah Alam area, till Tuesday after giving the deadline.

They said the volunteers, who had started a house-to-house search in the rugged Shah Alam area near Afghan border, had threatened Kurmazkhel and Kakakhel tribes to hand over the two wanted militants.

They said South Waziristan's Administrator Asmatullah Khan Gandapur had asked the tribesmen to produce the two wanted men.

"Don't waste your time in the search operation and produce the wanted militants," a tribal elder quoted Mr Gandapur as saying. The administrator asked the elders not to disturb common man, catch the real culprits and hand them over to the authorities.

Two wanted militants surrendered themselves to authorities unconditionally on Friday.

Local people say despite the government announcement Wana Bazaar has remained closed due to ongoing economic blockade placed by the government against Ahmadzai Wazir tribe.

The NWFP governor had recently announced that economic sanctions had been lifted for 10 days to avert food shortage in the region. However, the main bazaar is still closed.

They say only main routes have been opened for traffic and the local people have set up a temporary fruit and vegetable market in the Karikot area.