Cycle of woes: Traders from NWA flay govt’s incompetence

Say efforts should be made to restore their businesses, shops

BANNU: Traders from various parts of North Waziristan Agency took to the streets on Monday over the government’s failure to help restore their shops and businesses which were affected during Operation Zarb-e-Azb. 

A large number of protesters held a demonstration outside Bannu Press Club. They held placards and banners and shouted slogans against the government for failing to meet their demands. Traders and politicians – including leaders from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami – also participated in the protests.

According to the protesters, a large number of shops, stores and warehouses have been destroyed in various parts of the agency ever since the military offensive started in June 2014. Many of them said the shops contained goods worth millions of rupees.

The demonstrators said no organisation has taken an initiative to either restore their business or reconstruct shops and warehouses. They reiterated their demand to hold a sit-in if nothing is done to compensate them.

“We will hold a protest outside Governor House on September 15,” said a protester.

Speaking on the occasion, protesters said the government should not delay the repatriation process any further.

“We have also not received our monthly compensation amount for last few months,” he said. “The government should not leave us alone in our time of need.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2015.