MIRAMSHAH, March 12: Officials on Sunday relaxed a curfew in the North Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan but residents of Miranshah used the opportunity to flee their homes.
The curfew was relaxed from 10am to 5pm so that people could buy food and other items, local administrator Zaheer Islam said.
Shops and markets remained open during the day but many residents were seen leaving their homes in cars and pick-ups piled with household belongings, witnesses said.
The town has been badly battered in battles between police and troops and pro-Taliban militants.
A curfew was imposed in the area eight days ago when militants clashed with security forces after occupying government buildings. It was relaxed for five and six hours on Friday and Saturday.
The local administration on Sunday again warned residents against sheltering militants in leaflets circulated in the area, a security official said.
Five rockets were fired in the vicinity of Bannu early Sunday but caused no casualties.
TWO KILLED: Two bullet-riddled bodies, one of a local cleric and the other of a man suspected of links with Afghan forces, were found in nearby Haddi Kila and Madakhel villages, officials said.
A note, suspected of being written by militants, was found with the body of the cleric, prayer leader Qari Jamilur Rehman, which warned that anyone found ‘spying’ would suffer the same fate, a local administration official said.
Meanwhile, suspected militants stole three private vehicles carrying rations for troops in the South Waziristan tribal area near Wana, officials said.
Another vehicle, driven by an administration official, was also snatched in nearby Laddah village by suspected militants, officials said. The official was unharmed, they said. — AFP
