PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The hitherto defiant tribes in the semi- autonomous South Waziristan tribal region are showing signs of buckling under pressure by handing over two of the 12 fellow tribesmen accused of sheltering Al Qaeda militants in their area.
Officials in the regional headquarters Wana told Dawn that Shudiaki, Malak Shahi, Khuniakhel and Sperkai tribes in Shkai tribal region handed over two fellow tribesmen to the authorities. Jumma Afzal and Shawa Khan of Malak Shahi and Khuniakhel sub-tribes of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe surrendered to the administration to face questioning on sheltering Al Qaeda militants.
Officials said the tribes have agreed to surrender the remaining 10 suspects within two days.
Among the suspects are two brothers who are said to be in Dera Ismail Khan and are expected to be handed over to the authorities on Monday.
“The tribesmen have shown their goodwill and we have decided to respond to them in positive vein. They have indicated that they are willing to play balls and so we have decided to put off the crackdown against tribes in Shkai for a while to wait and see if they are handing over the remaining accused on Monday. If they take one step, we are ready to take two”, administrator South Waziristan, Mohammad Azam Khan said.
The administration in South Waziristan suspects native tribesmen in the hilly Shkai area are protecting and harbouring Al Qaeda militants in violation of May 11 agreement with the government that said that no foreigner would be allowed sanctuary.
Notices were served on 12 tribesmen to surrender and face questioning or face action under the Collective Responsibility clause of the 1940 British-era Frontier Crimes Regulation.
The law provides for arrest of members of erring tribe, seizure of their commercial movable and immovable property.
Mr Azam said his administration as a goodwill gesture was suspending the operation against Shkai tribesmen.
“The only thing they wanted was guarantees that their fellow tribesmen would not be handed over to the Americans. And I have given them my word”, he said.
There, however, was no let up in the operation against Yargulkhel, Zalikhel-Qarikhel tribesmen who have so far failed to produce the three tribesmen accused of having sheltered Al Qaeda militants in Baghar village.
Eight people were killed and 18 others rounded up in a military operation against Al Qaeda militants in Baghar village early this month. Two Pakistani soldiers were also killed in the operation.
Officials said that the administration sealed a hotel of Yargulkhel tribe in Dera Ismail Khan while arresting five more tribesmen, taking to the total number of tribesmen under custody to 59. More shops and vehicles belonging to the tribes were seized and impounded under the FCR, the officials said. “This will go on until the tribes relent and give up the accused”, the officials said.
