WANA, Nov 6: Political authorities in the South Waziristan Agency on Thursday demolished houses of two tribesmen accused of sheltering Al Qaeda suspects.

The authorities said the demolition of houses belonging to Zarey Gul and Payo Jan, who had gone into hiding after the last month’s military crackdown, was followed by an agreement with the Qarikhel tribe.

Tribesmen had been accused of sheltering suspected members of Al Qaeda network in Baghar village where the Pakistan Army launched operation Al Mizan in October.

The deputy administrator of Wana, headquarters of the South Waziristan Agency, told a news briefing that the arrested tribesmen would be released and their property returned to them.

Some of the local chieftains, including Allah Khan and Engineer Shehzad, who were present on the occasion, pledged their allegiance to the government but denied that their tribe had sheltered any Al Qaeda suspect.

They said that despite the fact that the government had no proof against the tribesmen, they had offered their houses for demolitions just to show their sincerity.

The assistant political agent, Wana, told reporters that talks were also underway with the Yar Gulkhel tribe, adding that he hoped to hear something positive in this regard.

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.