LADDHA, Feb 22: The Ahmedzai Wazir tribe is facing severe hardships as movement of its members has been restricted to Wana town for the last few days.

According to locals, the movement of Ahmedzai Wazir was restricted following a raid by security forces on a local hotel at Rustam Bazaar where six militants were killed and consequent attacks by Taliban on two checkposts in the region.

“The members of Ahmedzai Wazir tribe have been told not to visit Zyarhi Noor Camp, Scouts Camp, Rustam Bazaar, hospitals, educational institutions and other public places,” they said.

More than one hundred thousands population of Wana, the administrative headquarters of South Waziristan Agency, has been cut off from the rest of the country.

The people were neither allowed to visit public places nor leave for other neighboring tribal regions and districts.

An official of political administration told Dawn that the step was taken as security measure. However, he was not sure when ban on movement of Ahmedzai Wazirs would be lifted. He said that other perk and privileges of tribal people would remain intact and no arrest would be made under collective territorial responsibility till further development.

A security officer said on condition of anonymity that the action was taken under the collective territorial responsibility clause of FCR owing to growing incidents of violence and non-seriousness of Ahmedzai Wazir people.

“It is responsibility of the local tribe to maintain law and order in accordance with the 2007 peace deal made with them,” he said. He added that protection of government installations was also responsibility of the tribe but during the last one week two security posts were targeted and personnel were killed and injured.

However, the tribal elders said that they were abiding by the peace accord and succeeded to create a peaceful atmosphere in the region. They claimed that efforts were made to remove misunderstanding between security forces and militant groups on several occasions.

They said that they had not total control over militant groups. “If powerful military forces can’t control the situation, how armless tribal people can do it,” they questioned.

It is pertinent to mention here that militants attacked a checkpoint at Gardawi area near Gomal Zam on Wana-Tank Road. The post was jointly manned by khasadars and political administration personnel.

The second attack was carried out on FC post near Wana Scouts Camp at the night, leaving a security man killed.

The attacks took place after security forces raided a local hotel at Rustam Bazaar one week ago. Six Punjabi and local Taliban militants were killed in the raid.

Security forces also blew up the hotel and as a result several shops were also destroyed. The joint council of Taliban groups has recently issued statements, directing militants not to target security forces and government installations. The violators were warned of stern action.

Locals said that most of tribal people were either stuck at their homes or staying with their relatives and in hotels in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Peshawar and other cities.

“Patients can’t go to hospitals, students remain absent from schools and colleges and employees can’t reach their offices,” said a resident of Wana.

He said that destroyed roads, out of order telephone lines and constant disruption of electricity were gifts of militancy and subsequent deployment of security forces in the region.

“We have been made prisoners in our own town. Our businesses have suffered. Students are unable to attend classes and patients die in absence of medicines,” he added.

He said that ban on movement of people and closure of roads left them at the mercy of Allah. The Rustam Bazaar was presenting a deserted look. The stocks of food and non-food items including life saving medicines finished and might lead to famine if urgent steps were not taken, he said.

The locals demanded immediate restoration of power supply and opening of all routes to the region.

Rahmanullah, a local driver, presently trapped in Dera Ismail Khan, told Dawn by telephone that he could not earn livelihood for his family during the last few days. “I am a daily wager and the owner will not pay me if my vehicle doesn’t ply on road,” he said.

He aid that apart from trucks and buses about 300 hundred small vehicles including cars, vans and pick-ups were plying on Wana-Dera Road daily. “But all these vehicles are now staying off the road owing to its closure,” he said.

Syed Noor, a local tribesman, said that he had been stuck in Dera Ismail Khan for the last few days. “I am a patient. I have hired a room at a hotel in Dera city. I can no more afford the expenses,” he added.