WANA/TANK, Dec 6: About 850 families of Mehsud tribe have so far left South Waziristan Agency and reached Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and other parts of the country following receiving threats from Ahmedzai Wazirs after a suicide attack on Mullah Nazir, a pro-government Taliban leader.

On the other hand a jirga of Mehsud elders, held in Tank on Thursday, demanded of South Waziristan administration and appealed to Ahmedzai Wazir tribe to extend the deadline, set for their eviction, and arrange transport for them to ensure their timely evacuation from far-flung areas of the agency.

According to rough estimates, about 7,200 internally displaced members of Mehsud tribe are residing in different areas of South Waziristan. Most of Mehsud IDPs are living in Wana and Shakai where Ahmedzai Wazirs have provided them shelter in their houses.

Assistant Political Agent of South Waziristan Abdul Hameed Khattak told Dawn that about 850 families of Mehsud IDPs registered at various points left the agency. He added that about 300 Mehsud families left South Waziristan during the last two days.

However, independent sources said that about 3,050 families left Wana for Tank, D.I. Khan, Gomal area and other parts of the country. Mr Khattak said that most of the families were walking on foot so they were not registered with the authorities at various checkpoints.

Sources said that so far not a single family had shifted from Shakai area where most of Mehsud IDPs were residing.

They said that Tehsil Khan, a local commander of Mullah Nazir group, asked Ahmedzai Wazirs, who had given their houses to Mehsud IDPs in Shakai on rent or free of cost, to take control of their houses within three days. He said that they were going to expel all Mehsud IDPs from the region, they added.

A jirga of Ahmedzai Wazirs, held recently after an attempt on the life of Mullah Nazir, asked Mehuds to vacate South Waziristan as they were sheltering members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in guise of IDPs, who targeted local people and peace laskhar.

Senator Maulana Saleh Shah Qureshi of JUI-F told Dawn that most of the Mehsud IDPs in South Waziristan were poor. They could not afford to live in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and other parts of the country owing to their weak financial position so they opted to shift to South Waziristan during Operation Rah-i-Rast, he added.

He demanded of the government to provide free transportation, food, tents, medicines and other essential items to Mehsud IDPs.

The jirga of Mehsud elders, held in Tank on Thursday, was attended by Brig (retired) Qayum Sher, Maj (retired) Zaman, Malik Saeed Anwar, Malik Rapa Khan, Malik Janan, Malik Mohammad Ayaz, Malik Muqarab Khan, Maulana Abdul Haqqani, Maulan Saufuddin and other tribal elders. However, no political official attend the jirga despite invitation.

The jirga demanded of administration to provide free transportation to poor IDP families, set new deadline for their expulsion as the old one expired on Dec 5 and provide shelter and food items to them.

The elders also thanked Ahmedzai Wazirs for sheltering Mehsud IDPs for such a long period. The jirga said that Mehsuds were patriotic citizens of the country and always protected frontiers of the country.

The jirga also formed a 10-member committee to keep liaison with political administration for resolution of the problem.

The political agent also went to South Waziristan on Thursday to hold a meeting with Ahmedzai Wazirs to seek extension of the deadline.