Re-emergence of Taliban in South Waziristan denied

Ahmadzai Wazir elders say no restrictions announced

WANA: Ahmadzai Wazir elders, peace committee members and Maliks in the South Waziristan tribal agency have denied the re-emergence of the Taliban in their area.

Addressing a news conference in Wana, the Malik, political leaders, elders and other notables of the Ahmadzai tribes invited the media to visit the area to witness peace in the agency.

“Ahmadzai tribe inked a peace treaty with the government in 2007,” Maulana Taj Muhammad said, adding that they had sacrificed some 40 elders while shouldering the responsibility of maintaining peace in the agency with the security forces, and waging a war against militants – both local and foreign.

He said they were the only tribe that had formed a peace committee of some 120 elders and notables of the area who picked up arms against the militants and shed blood for their motherland.



Similarly, Ahmadzai and South Waziristan elders, in a separate news conference in Tank, denied that militants had announced restrictions on the locals, asking them to keep away from immoral and un-Islamic activities like holding functions, etc.

“No such announcement is made through local mosques or by distribution of leaflets or pamphlets,” Malik Rehamtaullah said.

“We categorically reject such demands [like a ban on our social and cultural activities],” Malik Rehamtaullah said, adding that the political administration and the security forces had taken timely action against those out to disrupt peace of the agency.

The news conference of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe of South Waziristan was also attended by Maulana Sultan Wazir, Malik Khai Muhammad and other notables of the agency.