MIRAMSHAH: Tribal people ended their five-day long sit-in protest in Mirali against targeted killings after reaching an agreement with the political administration of North Waziristan Agency on Friday.

Under the five-point agreement, the political administration in collaboration with the army would take certain security measures to stop targeted killings and lawlessness in the area. The agreement was signed by political agent Mohammad Ayaz Khan, Waziristan Youth Committee president Noor Islam and other elders.

The jirga members also held meeting with general officer commanding Maj-Gen Azhar Iqbal Abbasi and announced ending the protest sit-in, said an official. Hundreds of people staged a protest demonstration in Mirali after three people, including son of the former parliamentarian Maulana Deendar, were killed in gun and knife attacks in Mirali and Miramshah on Saturday last.

Admin assures people of security measures under agreement

According to unofficial reports, more than 10 people have died in acts of targeted killing in different areas of the tribal agency during the last one month. Attacks on security forces and bomb blasts along the roads have also witnessed surge that sparked unrest among the people.

The agreement said that the political administration and army would conduct joint patrolling in villages.

In addition, civil administration and army troops would jointly man all exit and entry points in the area. Youth of Waziristan would be given representation in tribal jirga in future.

Security forces would adopt stringent measures during taraveeh, sehr and iftar timings. The agreement said that GOC Gen Abbasi had taken up the housing compensation issue with the prime minister and Fata Secretariat and it would be resolved soon.

The federal government had announced package to pay compensation to the tribal people whose houses were damaged in the military operation ‘Zarb-i-Azb’. Under the package, Rs400,000 cash would be paid for completely damaged and Rs160,000 for partially damaged house.

According to the agreement, the rearming of local Khasadar Force would be discussed with the Corps Headquarters in Peshawar to ensure safety and security of inhabitants of North Waziristan Agency.

Like common tribesmen, the Khasadars, locally raised security force, were also disarmed during operation ‘Zarb-i-Azb’ that was launched against militants in June 2014. A senior official in the Fata Secretariat told Dawn in Peshawar that weapons were also collected from Khasadars during the operation.

Traditionally, Khasadars across Federally administered Tribal Area are using their own weapons and ammunition and they are responsible for the security of state properties. After displacement from the area Khasadars either sold their weapons or handed them over to the security forces.

In the wake of surge in targeted killings and other crimes in the area the local people demanded of the government to allow them to keep weapons for personal security. Before military operation there was no ban on display of weapons in the area.

The official who is dealing with the security matters in tribal region said that Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had signed a summary about two months ago to relax ban on weapons and allow people of North Waziristan Agency to keep weapons for self-protection.

“The summary is only North Waziristan Agency-specific and every family will be allowed to keep a single weapon,” said the official. However, he said that display of weapons would not be allowed in the area.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018