ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: Four MNAs of Fata on Friday flayed the military operations in the tribal belt against what they termed the so-called Taliban and Al-Qaeda remnants and warned of an armed uprising against the government if the action was not called off forthwith.

Maulana Abdul Malik, Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid, Maulana Mohammad Sadiq and Maulana Nek Zaman from Waziristan, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, told a news conference of the combined opposition parliamentary parties at the Parliament House that the government had launched the operation knowing very well that there were neither any Taliban nor Al-Qaeda members in the areas.

The four lawmakers, who belong to the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, asked the combined opposition to join in with their just stand that the military action in their areas was violative of the constitutional provisions, which could force the tribesmen to retaliate.

They told the press conference that no one had ever dared to snatch away an inch of our land all these years as we had taken the responsibility for the defence of porous borders spreading over seven agencies. Those killed in these operations were either locals or some Afghan refugees, but none of them was foreigner or Taliban, they claimed.

The MNAs said the tribal population was peace-loving, but warned that if anybody tried to interfere in their internal affairs or attempted to take liberties with their traditions or withdrew their rights protected by Pakistan’s constitution, the Fata people would began an armed action against the intruders.

The army action in north and south Waziristan agencies was taken at the behest of the American FBI, they alleged.

MMA’s deputy secretary-general Liaqat Baloch assured the tribal lawmakers of fullest support of the opposition in their just demands as well as their struggle against the unjust actions of the government.