PESHAWAR/WANA: The traders of North Waziristan continued to hold protest rallies on the ninth consecutive days on Saturday in Peshawar to seek compensation for their damaged shops in Miramshah Bazaar of the tribal district.

The protest rally also led to traffic jam on the busy Sher Shah Suri Road for some time. The protestors, who danced to drumbeats, also chanted slogans in support of their demands.

Holding banners and placards, the traders marched from Peshawar Press Club and observed a sit-in outside the provincial assembly building to record their protest against nonpayment of compensation to them for their losses.

The representatives of the protesters Malik Jamaluddin and Sakhiur Rehman told journalists that hundreds of shops were damaged and destroyed in Miramshah Bazaar during a military operation against the terrorists but federal government did not fulfil its commitment to compensate the affected traders.

Members of Ahmadzai Wazir tribe stage rally in Wana

They said that government was also reluctant to implement a court’s decision, which had directed for early payment of compensation to the affected traders. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the survey conducted for damage assessment, saying that many of the affected people were ignored in the report.

They said that they had been protesting for the last nine days but government was not taking any notice of the issue. They demanded of Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of their problems otherwise they would march on Islamabad.

The protesters said that reconstruction and repair of the damaged buildings required billions of rupees and they could not afford the expenses. They also talked about lack of education and health facilities in the area and urged government to fulfil its commitment and release the developmental funds to initiate developed schemes in the tribal district.

In South Waziristan tribal district, the affected people of Ahmadzai Wazir tribe staged a rally in Wana against nonpayment of compensation for their damaged properties on Saturday.

The rally started from Wana bypass road and culminated into a public gathering at the Wana Bazaar. The participants of the rally carried placards and banners and danced to drumbeats during the march.

They asked the government to accept their demands and constitute survey teams to assess the damage and pay compensation to the affected people.

The protesters said that military operations in the area resulted in widespread damage to private properties but government did not take notice of it. The local leaders of various political parties also assured the protesters of their full support.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2020