NORTH WAZIRISTAN: The Uthmanzai tribemen on Friday put off their sit-in protest against ‘lawlessness’ here after successful talks with a 16-strong political committee formed by the prime minister.

Headed by opposition leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani, the panel comprised Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Qaumi Watan Party leader Sikandar Sherpao, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Ikhtiar Wali, JUI-F leader Maulana Attaul Haq Qasmi, and representatives of other political parties.

Members of the committee visited Eidek village near Mirali, where elders of the Uthmanzai tribe had organised a sit-in protest against targeted killings and deteriorating law and order situation in the tribal district. They held talks with tribal elders at the Madressah Nizamia.

The Uthmanzai elders accepted the request of the committee and postponed their protest for two weeks. The protesters will remove road blockades across the district, while the residents will celebrate Independence Day with national zeal.

Earlier, the Uthmanzai tribe had announced it would observe a black day on Aug 14.

Mr Durrani told reporters that the committee would take up demands of the Uthmanzai tribe with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and would make efforts to resolve all their issues within 15 days.

He said the people of Waziristan were very patriotic.

The opposition leader voiced concern about targeted killings in the district and said the federal government would take all steps to ensure peace.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.