Pakistan- 'Yao Wazir' sit-in of South Waziristan people begins in Tank

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) WANA: The people of South Waziristan tribal district affected from militancy and military operations have initiated a sit-in in favour of their demands outside the Frontier Corps (FC) Camp in Wana.

A large number of tribal elders and political activists are joining the sit-in titled ‘Yao Wazir' which means the Wazir tribesmen are united for their rights. Tribal elders Malik Abdul Khaliq Wazir, Malik Nizamuddin Wazir, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Malik Ayaz Wazir, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Imran Mukhlis and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) district ameer Nadeem Wazir are leading the sit-in protest.

The Ahmedzai Wazir tribe has drafted a 15-point charter of demands and distributed its pumphlets in Wana Bazaar. The main demands include compensation for damages during militancy and military operations, restoration of peace, shifting of all administrative offices from Tank to South Waziristan and facilities for Afghan refugees and affectees of Utmanzai Wazir tribe at check posts. One of the demands is about ownership rights of the local people on forests, while demands have also been made about recovery of Dr Noor Hanan and Dr Abidullah Mehsud, provision of internet facilities, opening of Angoor Adda border, steps for curbing the increasing use of narcotics in the area, audit of funds provided to merged districts for affected people by government and non-governmental organisations since the war on terror began in 2000, inclusion of Madrassas (religious seminaries) in development process, restoration of educational institutions and health centres and resolution of all land disputes according to official record.

Participants of the sit-in said they will continue protest till resolution of all demands. A 66-member committee has been formed for monitoring of the sit-in. Members from all sub-tribes of Ahmedzai Wazir tribe have been included in the committee. So far, no government official has held negotiations with the sit-in participants.

Yao Wazir sit-in is apparently inspired from the similar protest of Mehsud tribesmen in Tank recently.

People from Mehsud tribe recently staged a sit-in in Tank to lodge peaceful protest over non-payment of compensation to people who were affected from militancy and military operations. The sit-in was titled 'Yao Maseed' which means 'One Mehsud tribe'.

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