Bara tribesmen refuse to pay fine over security forces’ losses

[Samandri]

LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Sipah have refused to pay the fine imposed on the tribe for inflicting losses on the security forces during military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency political administration imposed a fine of Rs120 million on the entire Sipah tribe for causing damage to military hardware and attacking security forces in its territory, especially Spin Qabar area, in October last year when forces launched ‘Khyber One’ military operation against the banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in the area.

Read: Bara tribesmen adamant in opposition to offensive

The administration had informed a jirga of Sipah that members of the tribe would not be allowed to go back to their homes and all their official perks and privileges would remain suspended unless they paid the fine.

The Sipah elders met at Bagh-i-Naran in Hayatabad, Peshawar and decided against paying the fine. The Sipah elders also formed a committee, headed by Shah Faisal, to resolve the issue by holding talks with the administration.

Demand compensation over destroyed property
Shah Faisal told Dawn that his tribe was not ready to pay the fine come what may. “It is totally unjust and not acceptable as we have not committed any crime,” he said, adding that his tribe was ready to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Mr Faisal said that properties of Sipah families worth billions of rupees were destroyed during the military operations while more than 200 shops in Bara Bazaar were demolished in the name of repairing the road but they were not paid a single penny as compensation.

He said that imposition of such a hefty fine had no precedent in the entire Fata. The political administration made the Sipah tribe a scapegoat to hide its inefficiency and failure to restore peace in Bara.

“We have formed a committee to hold parlays with the government but we would not hesitate in starting agitation if the government refuses to acknowledge our just demands of withdrawing the fine,” the tribal elder said.

Also read: Tribes vow to resist operation

The Khyber Agency political administration had a few months ago handed over a list of over 100 wanted men including the fugitive leader of Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, with a warning that they would not be allowed to come back to their homes if those wanted men, all belonging to Sipah tribe, were not surrendered to the administration.

Although Sipah elders managed to surrender some of the wanted men, yet they expressed their inability to track down Mangal Bagh and his close associates.

Sipah tribe was also made responsible for ensuring the security of Bara Bazaar when the administration announced its plan of reopening the historic bazaar.

Sipah tribe is yet to shoulder the responsibility as it had demanded of the administration to announce a comprehensive compensation package for both the Sipah traders and ordinary tribesmen, who had incurred huge monetary loses during the military operation in Bara.

Mr Faisal accused the Bara administration of demolishing their shops in Bara Bazaar without taking them into confidence and without conducting a survey regarding collective damage caused to Sipah tribe.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: The reports about demolition of commercial and residential properties in Mirali and Miramshah have worried the elders of Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency.

A jirga of Utmanzai tribe was held in Hayatabad Peshawar on Monday that was attended by a large number of elders and other stakeholders. The tribal elders said that they received reports that security forces started demolition of properties in Miramshah and Mirali bazaars and in the surrounding areas.

They said that after operation Zarb-i-Azb, the local residents and shopkeepers were not allowed to shift their goods and belongings from shops and homes. They said that shops and houses were being bulldozed in two towns of the tribal agency.

Addressing the jirga, Malik Khan Marjan said that flushing out militants from the area was no justification to demolish the houses. He said that people of North Waziristan Agency had sacrificed for the security of the country by vacating their homes and cooperated with the security forces in establishing writ of the state.

Mr Marjan said that the government failed to fulfil its commitments to repatriate the internally displaced persons. He demanded of the government to ensure protection of properties in Miramshah and Mirali and give them proper compensation.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015
Bara tribesmen refuse to pay fine over security forces’ losses - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[salarsikander]

Hi,
Its high time everyone start following and respecting law

 

[Indus Falcon]

Hi,
Its high time everyone start following and respecting law

They need to be disarmed first.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

This is tricky legal situation. I am not to sure collective responsibility is still sustainable in 2015. In law 9 as general principle ) you can't hold a group resonsible for the actions of a individuels or group of individuels unless you can determine that they were involved in those acts at some level.

I know this has been used from the British times but that does not make it right. This would be like making all of Lahore liable for any damage done to any property or loss by anybody within Lahore. I use Lahore although I was going to use Karachi but that would get people ruffled.

I think FATA needs to be integrated into Khyber province or turned into a fully fledged province. I suspect the former would be better because of lack of civil service or administrative architecture. At any rate this needs to be done as soon as possible so that is anachronistic system is consigned to history.

Extra funding could be sought from the international community and funneled into this area designed to integrate FATA within say 10 year timeframe.

 

[Indus Falcon]

I think FATA needs to be integrated into Khyber province or turned into a fully fledged province. I suspect the former would be better because of lack of civil service or administrative architecture. At any rate this needs to be done as soon as possible so that is anachronistic system is consigned to history.

Extra funding could be sought from the international community and funneled into this area designed to integrate FATA within say 10 year timeframe.

During the time of Gen. Karamat, PA carried out a study to resolve FATA issue once and for all. I cannot go into details, but one option that came up was what you have mentioned, A separate province, so that things don't get diluted and it can be focused on properly. The other (not so viable) option was a special administrator. Nonetheless the time frame to work things out, from A to Z, once funding was in place,was between 2 to 4 years.

Ultimately the PPP civilian govt. got cold feet and chickened out.

To take on the wrath of the Pakhtoons is not so easy. Seriously doubt IF any of our politicians have the guts to do it!

 

[qamar1990]

LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Sipah have refused to pay the fine imposed on the tribe for inflicting losses on the security forces during military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency political administration imposed a fine of Rs120 million on the entire Sipah tribe for causing damage to military hardware and attacking security forces in its territory, especially Spin Qabar area, in October last year when forces launched ‘Khyber One’ military operation against the banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in the area.

Read: Bara tribesmen adamant in opposition to offensive

The administration had informed a jirga of Sipah that members of the tribe would not be allowed to go back to their homes and all their official perks and privileges would remain suspended unless they paid the fine.

The Sipah elders met at Bagh-i-Naran in Hayatabad, Peshawar and decided against paying the fine. The Sipah elders also formed a committee, headed by Shah Faisal, to resolve the issue by holding talks with the administration.

Demand compensation over destroyed property
Shah Faisal told Dawn that his tribe was not ready to pay the fine come what may. “It is totally unjust and not acceptable as we have not committed any crime,” he said, adding that his tribe was ready to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Mr Faisal said that properties of Sipah families worth billions of rupees were destroyed during the military operations while more than 200 shops in Bara Bazaar were demolished in the name of repairing the road but they were not paid a single penny as compensation.

He said that imposition of such a hefty fine had no precedent in the entire Fata. The political administration made the Sipah tribe a scapegoat to hide its inefficiency and failure to restore peace in Bara.

“We have formed a committee to hold parlays with the government but we would not hesitate in starting agitation if the government refuses to acknowledge our just demands of withdrawing the fine,” the tribal elder said.

Also read: Tribes vow to resist operation

The Khyber Agency political administration had a few months ago handed over a list of over 100 wanted men including the fugitive leader of Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, with a warning that they would not be allowed to come back to their homes if those wanted men, all belonging to Sipah tribe, were not surrendered to the administration.

Although Sipah elders managed to surrender some of the wanted men, yet they expressed their inability to track down Mangal Bagh and his close associates.

Sipah tribe was also made responsible for ensuring the security of Bara Bazaar when the administration announced its plan of reopening the historic bazaar.

Sipah tribe is yet to shoulder the responsibility as it had demanded of the administration to announce a comprehensive compensation package for both the Sipah traders and ordinary tribesmen, who had incurred huge monetary loses during the military operation in Bara.

Mr Faisal accused the Bara administration of demolishing their shops in Bara Bazaar without taking them into confidence and without conducting a survey regarding collective damage caused to Sipah tribe.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: The reports about demolition of commercial and residential properties in Mirali and Miramshah have worried the elders of Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency.

A jirga of Utmanzai tribe was held in Hayatabad Peshawar on Monday that was attended by a large number of elders and other stakeholders. The tribal elders said that they received reports that security forces started demolition of properties in Miramshah and Mirali bazaars and in the surrounding areas.

They said that after operation Zarb-i-Azb, the local residents and shopkeepers were not allowed to shift their goods and belongings from shops and homes. They said that shops and houses were being bulldozed in two towns of the tribal agency.

Addressing the jirga, Malik Khan Marjan said that flushing out militants from the area was no justification to demolish the houses. He said that people of North Waziristan Agency had sacrificed for the security of the country by vacating their homes and cooperated with the security forces in establishing writ of the state.

Mr Marjan said that the government failed to fulfil its commitments to repatriate the internally displaced persons. He demanded of the government to ensure protection of properties in Miramshah and Mirali and give them proper compensation.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015
Bara tribesmen refuse to pay fine over security forces’ losses - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

if they dont pay they should be put in jail..

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

It is about time that FATA should be abolished and merged with KPK. The British created FATA after 1839 Anglo-Afghan war its nearly two hundred years and this tribal areas rule must end.

 

[That Guy]

It is about time that FATA should be abolished and merged with KPK. The British created FATA after 1839 Anglo-Afghan war its nearly two hundred years and this tribal areas rule must end.

Perhaps it should be made it's own province.

If they have a problem, challenge it in courts, instead of threatening unrest.

 

[kaonalpha]

LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Sipah have refused to pay the fine imposed on the tribe for inflicting losses on the security forces during military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency political administration imposed a fine of Rs120 million on the entire Sipah tribe for causing damage to military hardware and attacking security forces in its territory, especially Spin Qabar area, in October last year when forces launched ‘Khyber One’ military operation against the banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in the area.

Read: Bara tribesmen adamant in opposition to offensive

The administration had informed a jirga of Sipah that members of the tribe would not be allowed to go back to their homes and all their official perks and privileges would remain suspended unless they paid the fine.

The Sipah elders met at Bagh-i-Naran in Hayatabad, Peshawar and decided against paying the fine. The Sipah elders also formed a committee, headed by Shah Faisal, to resolve the issue by holding talks with the administration.

Demand compensation over destroyed property
Shah Faisal told Dawn that his tribe was not ready to pay the fine come what may. “It is totally unjust and not acceptable as we have not committed any crime,” he said, adding that his tribe was ready to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Mr Faisal said that properties of Sipah families worth billions of rupees were destroyed during the military operations while more than 200 shops in Bara Bazaar were demolished in the name of repairing the road but they were not paid a single penny as compensation.

He said that imposition of such a hefty fine had no precedent in the entire Fata. The political administration made the Sipah tribe a scapegoat to hide its inefficiency and failure to restore peace in Bara.

“We have formed a committee to hold parlays with the government but we would not hesitate in starting agitation if the government refuses to acknowledge our just demands of withdrawing the fine,” the tribal elder said.

Also read: Tribes vow to resist operation

The Khyber Agency political administration had a few months ago handed over a list of over 100 wanted men including the fugitive leader of Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, with a warning that they would not be allowed to come back to their homes if those wanted men, all belonging to Sipah tribe, were not surrendered to the administration.

Although Sipah elders managed to surrender some of the wanted men, yet they expressed their inability to track down Mangal Bagh and his close associates.

Sipah tribe was also made responsible for ensuring the security of Bara Bazaar when the administration announced its plan of reopening the historic bazaar.

Sipah tribe is yet to shoulder the responsibility as it had demanded of the administration to announce a comprehensive compensation package for both the Sipah traders and ordinary tribesmen, who had incurred huge monetary loses during the military operation in Bara.

Mr Faisal accused the Bara administration of demolishing their shops in Bara Bazaar without taking them into confidence and without conducting a survey regarding collective damage caused to Sipah tribe.

Our Peshawar Bureau adds: The reports about demolition of commercial and residential properties in Mirali and Miramshah have worried the elders of Utmanzai tribe of North Waziristan Agency.

A jirga of Utmanzai tribe was held in Hayatabad Peshawar on Monday that was attended by a large number of elders and other stakeholders. The tribal elders said that they received reports that security forces started demolition of properties in Miramshah and Mirali bazaars and in the surrounding areas.

They said that after operation Zarb-i-Azb, the local residents and shopkeepers were not allowed to shift their goods and belongings from shops and homes. They said that shops and houses were being bulldozed in two towns of the tribal agency.

Addressing the jirga, Malik Khan Marjan said that flushing out militants from the area was no justification to demolish the houses. He said that people of North Waziristan Agency had sacrificed for the security of the country by vacating their homes and cooperated with the security forces in establishing writ of the state.

Mr Marjan said that the government failed to fulfil its commitments to repatriate the internally displaced persons. He demanded of the government to ensure protection of properties in Miramshah and Mirali and give them proper compensation.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015
Bara tribesmen refuse to pay fine over security forces’ losses - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

I'm with the tribals. And the Jirga is right on their point.
The government should rather let them be.They can put a fine on them after they have established a source of income.

 

[tarrar]

Then why did they help aid rented terrorists? they should not have welcomed them & helped them. I hope the issue is solved peacefully.

 

[kaonalpha]

Then why did they help aid rented terrorists? they should not have welcomed them & helped them. I hope the issue is solved peacefully.

I'm guessing you never met tribals.
They are humble people who welcome outsiders in need. They call khyber pukhtun khuwa land if hospitality for a reason.

 

[shah1398]

They need to be disarmed first.

Either we disarm whole FATA or we keep them at level of Post 9/11. These tribes take pride in their ammunition and related arsenal and keep deterrence from being attacked and subdued by their foe tribes. These tribes regularly clash with each other over proprietary rights of assets like forested areas, mineral rich mountains and strategic Peaks.so either we disarm them all (which is almost impossible in short time) or bring them in the political umbrella. Previous attempts to disarm them have been proved futile.It better to bring them in mainstream activities under political administration patronship just like we did in Bajaur and Mohmand.

 

[Menace2Society]

Exterminate them or deport to Afghanistan.

 

[WAJsal]

I think FATA needs to be integrated into Khyber province or turned into a fully fledged province. I suspect the former would be better because of lack of civil service or administrative architecture. At any rate this needs to be done as soon as possible so that is anachronistic system is consigned to history.

Don't expect too much, as much as i agree with you but who will integrate FATA with KPK. If FATA is to ever improve socially it needs to be made a part of KPK or a new government. Current system is too poor or has many flaws. I don't get what is keeping them from making FATA a province. Yes we understand Gilgit's situation but what's the deal with FATA. Only way FATA can move forward is through proper education, only way FATA can get rid of terrorism, educate the locals.

 

[third eye]

The elders of Sipah have refused to pay the fine imposed on the tribe for inflicting losses on the security forces during military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Khyber Agency political administration imposed a fine of Rs120 million on the entire Sipah tribe for causing damage to military hardware and attacking security forces in its territory, especially Spin Qabar area, in October last year when forces launched ‘Khyber One’ military operation against the banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in the area.

Its amazing to see that antiquated old British days methods of collective punishment is still in vogue in Pakistan !

Why would the entire tribe pay for the misdeeds of a few ?