DERA ISMAIL KHAN: People here on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the protesters who had been holding a sit-in for the last six days in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan, and demanding restoration of peace.

The protesters who gathered outside the Dera Press Club also demanded release of MNA Ali Wazir.

Awami National Party’s Niaz Wazir, Pakistan Peoples Party’s Yasin Wazir, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Abid Wazir, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement’s Jamshed Wazir, Mustafa Mehsud from Wana Olasi Pasoon and other political figures and lawyers attended the rally.

They said that genuine demands of the protesters in Wana should be accepted immediately.

They regretted that targeted killings and extortion had become a routine and said that maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government.

Demand restoration of peace in Waziristan

They said that law should be followed if the government wanted to carry out a search operation or take action against any person wanted by police.

“Peace in Lower South Waziristan is subject to the restoration of writ of the government,” they said, adding that a separate district police officer, judiciary and other line departments should be transferred to Lower Waziristan.

The participants said that protection of police stations and police posts should be ensured and indiscriminate action taken against the government and private vehicles with tinted glasses.

LAWYERS BOYCOTT: On the appeal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, lawyers in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank on Wednesday boycotted court proceedings to record their protest against the murder of a lawyer in Tank.

The slain lawyer, Dilnawaz Kundi advocate, was travelling in a car with his colleague Mustafa Marwat when unknown assailants attacked them in Tajori area of Tank district on Tuesday. Mustafa Marwat was also injured in the attack.

Dera district bar association president Mohammad Irfan condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2023