SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Residents of Karikot area in Wana tehsil of Lower South Waziristan staged a protest on Wednesday against unnecessary diversions and the deteriorating condition of the Wana-Karikot Road, blocking it to traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters and transporters.
The protest was temporarily called off following negotiations between local elders, youth representatives, transporters and station house officer (SHO) City Police Station Wana, Sadiq Khan Wazir, who sought five days to initiate practical measures to address the issue.
The protesters said multiple unnecessary diversions and poorly maintained sections of the road had made daily commuting increasingly difficult. They complained that motorists were forced to take lengthy alternative routes, increasing travel time and causing hardships for local residents.
They said patients, elderly people, students, labourers and public transport operators were among those the worst affected. Expressing particular concern over patients requiring emergency medical care, they said unnecessary diversions could delay their transportation to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The protesters demanded immediate removal of unnecessary diversions and obstructions along the road.
They said that where diversions were unavoidable for security reasons, the authorities should ensure proper planning and provide permanent, paved and safe alternative routes to facilitate public movement.
They maintained that security arrangements and public convenience should go hand in hand, adding that measures taken in the name of security should not unnecessarily disrupt the daily lives of local residents.
Meanwhile, local elders and transport representatives held negotiations with SHO Sadiq Khan Wazir at City Police Station Wana to discuss their grievances.
During the talks, the SHO sought five days to initiate practical steps to address complaints regarding road diversions and obstructions.
The protesters agreed to give the authorities until Nov 16 to take action and announced temporary suspension of their protest. However, they warned that they reserved the right to announce their future course of action if practical measures were not initiated within the stipulated timeframe.
Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026
