KARACHI, Dec 17: The Pakhtoon Action Committee (Loya Jirga) has demanded release of all Pakhtoons arrested on Friday and withdrawal of cases against them. This demand was made by PAC Chairman Shahi Syed while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Sunday afternoon. He also demanded payment of compensation to the injured and heirs of those died in the protest.

Besides, he said that meaningful dialogue on their 13-point charter of demands must be initiated immediately. He warned if they failed to get positive response from the government within the next few days, they would announce their future strategy.

Shahi Syed called for punitive action against the officials responsible for torturing students, repeal of Nadra’s circular regarding national identity cards, retrenchment of workers from ports and other institutions, and brutal access on Pakhtoons during the strike.

The PAC had started peaceful struggle for resolution of problems of transporters, kutchi abadis and other oppressed nationalities, he said and added that the December 15 strike call was given after failing to get concrete outcome of the talks during the last six months.

He claimed that the strike was peaceful until afternoon when administration tried to make it violent by setting ablaze hotels, shops, rickshaws and cabins. He alleged that TPO North Nazimabad at the fag end of strike reached Bacha Khan Chowk along with police personnel of Sharah-i-Noorjahan and Haideri police stations and used tear gas shells and opened fire at unarmed protesters injuring 10 persons.

He said the purpose of the government actions could not be other than to put the strike on the violent road.