Demand end to drone strikes in the region. PHOTO: FILE
DI KHAN:
Tribesmen on Saturday protested against the killing of Taliban warlord Mullah Nazir in Wana sub-division of South Waziristan.
Shops and markets remained closed in the area prior to the protest which started from Wana Rustham Bazaar to demonstrate against drone strikes.
“All shops were closed in Wana and the tribesmen protested against the killing of Mullah Nazir,” a local administration official, Amir Nawaz told AFP.
Nazir, killed late Wednesday in a US drone strike, was the main militant leader in the tribal district of South Waziristan, where he plotted attacks on US and Nato troops and reportedly sheltered al Qaeda operatives.
Bahawal Khan, locally known as Salaudin Ayubi was appointed as Nazir’s successor after his death.
“More than 3,000 tribesmen, carrying black flags, later marched towards Azam Warsak, around seven kilometres west of Wana and passed a resolution against the US,” Nawaz told AFP.
They demanded the government and the United Nations (UN) to take concrete steps to stop drone strikes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), especially in North and South Waziristan.
One protester said their resolve would not waiver even after the death of their Ameer (leader).
“We, the Ahmadzai tribe, will not let any force disrupt peace in Wana,” read the resolution.
The resolution also stated that all the internal affairs of the Ahmadzai tribe in Wana will be suspended till January 28 to mourn Nazir’s death.
Addressing the rally, Maulana Sultan demanded the government to end all diplomatic ties with the US. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2013.
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Our coward government will never end diplomatic ties with US. Who will give us aid then?