August 16, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 13, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Jamaat-i-Islami’s NWFP Amir Sirajul Haq has claimed that several hundred men, women and children have been killed and about 300,000 people rendered homeless during the ten-day military operation in the Bajaur agency.

Talking to media personnel here on Friday, he said the government had done nothing to provide shelter or food to the displaced people.

He accused the government of launching military operations in tribal areas to appease the United States and called for stopping air strikes and ground actions. The government was pursuing the policies of President Pervez Musharraf, he added.

He criticised the government for asking civilians to vacate the Taliban-dominated areas. Pamphlets were dropped from helicopters, urging people to put down their arms, but soon after security personnel opened fire on them.

He said that dozens of mosques and madressahs had been destroyed by shelling.

The JI leader said that the welfare wing of his party, Al-Khidmat, had set up relief camps in Dir, Timergarah and Mandar areas for the displaced people.