Political forces pledge support to beleaguered tribesmen
PESHAWAR:
With beleaguered tribesmen feeling increasingly ostracized by military operations in the tribal belt, political parties on Wednesday jumped in to pledge support for their tribulations.
Leaders of major political forces, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Muttahida Qabail Party, along with representatives of the ruling Awami National Party (ANP) expressed solidarity with protesters, who brought with them 15 bodies of their loved ones allegedly killed by security forces, at the sit-in outside Governor House.
The mutilated bodies were recovered from the Alam Gudar area of Bara, Khyber Agency, Tuesday evening. The bodies of a woman and two children killed in the incident were, however, not brought to the sit-in.
The initial participants who started marching towards the Governor House consisted mainly of tribesmen from Khyber Agency. But a large number of people, including activists of political parties, later joined the protest. The number of people at the convention soon swelled to at least 2,500.
Heavy contingents of police personnel were deployed in the area and the main Sher Shah Suri Road from FC Chowk till the provincial assembly was blocked for all traffic.
Leaders of different political parties and tribal elders lashed out against the military for not being able to protect the lives of innocent citizens.
Provincial chief of JI, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, blamed the army for continuing with a “useless” military operation, which he said “failed to produce any results.”
Appealing to the masses to take part in the sit-in protest, he said the president and army chief were fully responsible for the injustices borne by the tribal people. “Our FIR is against General Kayani.”
Ibrahim lauded the tribesmen for finally breaking their silence.
Former JI senator and a vocal activist against military operation in tribal areas, Haji Muhammad Shah, appeared visibly distraught.
“Tribal people have rendered tremendous sacrifices for the creation of this country and have been protecting its borders for decades. Now the same people are being victimised by their own security forces,” said the former lawmaker with a quiver in his voice.
About the duration of the sit-in, Shah said the “the tribal elders will decide how long they are going to stay here.”
Former nazim of Bara, Subhat Khan Afridi said all steps had been taken for a prolonged sit-in and they would continue their protest till their demands were met.
JUI-F’s provincial spokesperson Abdul Jalil Jan and district chief of the party for Peshawar Qari Rafiq Shah demanded the resignation of the K-P governor.
PMAP’s provincial president Mukhtar Yousafzai went as far as terming military operations in tribal areas a “conspiracy” against Pukhtuns. He added the areas inhabited by Pukhtuns had been turned into a battleground.
“Pakistan claims it is militarily the most powerful and the 7th greatest atomic power of the world. Why has it failed to achieve peace in the tribal area, for the past 10 years?”
PTI leader Iqbal Afridi criticised the media for highlighting the Alamdar Road sit-in against the killing of Hazaras in Quetta, but not lending an ear to their miseries.
Afridi said military operations were not the solution to the problem and they have repeatedly voiced their concerns to government officials, but to no avail.
“The government should adopt the option of talks with militants for the sake of saving civilians,” he urged.
ANP General Secretary Abdul Wahid said tribal people have their own jirga to resolve issues. “These incidents will not bear any fruit for the government and people. Rather, they will increase violence.”
Former senator Nasir Khan said lawmakers need to take up these issues in the parliament in order to avoid ‘collateral damage’ and death of civilians. “They only come before the elections to get votes. After they win, they go back to enjoy their luxurious lives,” he said.
Protesters also chanted slogans against the government and elected MNA from Khyber Agency, Hameedullah Jan Afridi.
Sit-in protest: Political forces pledge support to beleaguered tribesmen – The Express Tribune
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