NORTH WAZIRISTAN: The residents of North Waziristan tribal district launched a protest movement on Wednesday against the targeted killings and lawlessness in the area. They blocked the main highway connecting Miramshah with other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The protest movement has been started in the light of a decision of the Uthmanzai tribe’s elders, the main tribe from which the Dawar and Ahmadzai Wazir tribes of North Waziristan descend.

The jirga of Uthmanzai elders had met on Tuesday, where it was decided that a protest movement would be launched and continued till acceptance of their demands.

The jirga had also decided to start a complete boycott of the official functions, and that the local people would neither visit offices nor meet the officials.

A 30-member jirga comprising elders of all branches of Uthmanzai tribe was constituted to discuss the situation with the local officials.

Majority of the elders were in favour of boycotting anti-polio vaccination drive in the district, but MNA Mohsin Dawar had opposed decision of the jirga about boycotting the polio campaign. Mohsin Dawar made it clear to the jirga that he was ready to support jirga members in all their decisions but won’t back them in boycotting the vaccination campaign.

The jirga had also decided that a sit-in would be staged in Islamabad if their demands were not materialised.

Meanwhile, the protesters blocked the Miramshah-Bannu Road while placing boulders on it.

On the other hand, workers of different political parties and local residents continued a sit-in in Eidek area near the Mirali town.

The residents had started the sit-in to protest the targeted killing two weeks ago. They have been demanding of the government to take action against the target killers and maintain peace in the district.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2022