BANNU: Hundreds of students displaced from North Waziristan Agency staged a demonstration demanding their repatriation till August 30, warning that in case otherwise they would start marching towards Waziristan after the expiry of their three-day deadline.

The displaced students of schools and colleges from North Waziristan, holding placards and banners, gathered at Milad Park in Bannu and after passing through various roads staged a protest demonstration in front of the Bannu Press Club.

The protesters were addressed by student leaders, including Ibrahim Khan, Faheemullah and Ejazul Haq. They said that thousands of tribal people from North Waziristan had vacated their houses and migrated to Bannu due to ongoing military operation there.

They said that the worst sufferers among the internally displaced persons were the students, adding that they could not complete their homework during summer vacations and make preparation for exams in the tented IDP camp or rented houses.

Warn of starting march towards Waziristan if demand not met

They said that the Pakistan Army had already declared 80 per cent area clear from militants and they should be repatriated within next three days otherwise they would start march towards their hometowns. They said that there was no justification for keeping the tribal people as IDPs in camps.

The affected students said that classes in schools and colleges would resume from September 1 throughout the country, but the students from North Waziristan were still unclear about their studies.

Ikramullah Dawar, a student, said that the Fata Secretariat had assured them of admission in colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to save their academic year. He regretted that so far the Fata Secretariat had not taken any step in this regard. He said that the students were worried about their future and forced to take such an action.

Another student, Hussain Ahmed, said that all the protesting students belonged to poor families. He said that children of rich people had taken admission in colleges in Peshawar and Islamabad. He said that the poor students had no other option, but to return to North Waziristan and start study in their colleges.

Ejaz, a student, told Dawn that he belonged to Bannu district, but was participating in the protest to express solidarity with his fellows from Waziristan. He said that it was the birthright of tribal students to get education.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2014