LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Sipah have refused to pay the fine imposed on the tribe for inflicting losses on the security forces during military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency political administration imposed a fine of Rs120 million on the entire Sipah tribe for causing damage to military hardware and attacking security forces in its territory, especially Spin Qabar area, in October last year when forces launched ‘Khyber One’ military operation against the banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in the area.

Read: Bara tribesmen adamant in opposition to offensive

The administration had informed a jirga of Sipah that members of the tribe would not be allowed to go back to their homes and all their official perks and privileges would remain suspended unless they paid the fine.

The Sipah elders met at Bagh-i-Naran in Hayatabad, Peshawar and decided against paying the fine. The Sipah elders also formed a committee, headed by Shah Faisal, to resolve the issue by holding talks with the administration.

Demand compensation over destroyed property

Shah Faisal told Dawn that his tribe was not ready to pay the fine come what may. “It is totally unjust and not acceptable as we have not committed any crime,” he said, adding that his tribe was ready to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Mr Faisal said that properties of Sipah families worth billions of rupees were destroyed during the military operations while more than 200 shops in Bara Bazaar were demolished in the name of repairing the road but they were not paid a single penny as compensation.

He said that imposition of such a hefty fine had no precedent in the entire Fata. The political administration made the Sipah tribe a scapegoat to hide its inefficiency and failure to restore peace in Bara.

“We have formed a committee to hold parlays with the government but we would not hesitate in starting agitation if the government refuses to acknowledge our just demands of withdrawing the fine,” the tribal elder said.

Also read: Tribes vow to resist operation

The Khyber Agency political administration had a few months ago handed over a list of over 100 wanted men including the fugitive leader of Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, with a warning that they would not be allowed to come back to their homes if those wanted men, all belonging to Sipah tribe, were not surrendered to the administration.

Although Sipah elders managed to surrender some of the wanted men, yet they expressed their inability to track down Mangal Bagh and his close associates.

Sipah tribe was also made responsible for ensuring the security of Bara Bazaar when the administration announced its plan of reopening the historic bazaar.

Sipah tribe is yet to shoulder the responsibility as it had demanded of the administration to announce a comprehensive compensation package for both the Sipah traders and ordinary tribesmen, who had incurred huge monetary loses during the military operation in Bara.

Mr Faisal accused the Bara administration of demolishing their shops in Bara Bazaar without taking them into confidence and without conducting a survey regarding collective damage caused to Sipah tribe.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: The reports about demolition of commercial and residential properties in Mirali and Miramshah have worried the elders of Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency.

A jirga of Utmanzai tribe was held in Hayatabad Peshawar on Monday that was attended by a large number of elders and other stakeholders. The tribal elders said that they received reports that security forces started demolition of properties in Miramshah and Mirali bazaars and in the surrounding areas.

They said that after operation Zarb-i-Azb, the local residents and shopkeepers were not allowed to shift their goods and belongings from shops and homes. They said that shops and houses were being bulldozed in two towns of the tribal agency.

Addressing the jirga, Malik Khan Marjan said that flushing out militants from the area was no justification to demolish the houses. He said that people of North Waziristan Agency had sacrificed for the security of the country by vacating their homes and cooperated with the security forces in establishing writ of the state.

Mr Marjan said that the government failed to fulfil its commitments to repatriate the internally displaced persons. He demanded of the government to ensure protection of properties in Miramshah and Mirali and give them proper compensation.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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