Sit-in against drone strike enters 5th day

Protesters postpone Capital march plan as negotiations underway for negotiated end to dharna

MIRANSHAH:

A protest sit-in by tribesmen in the Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan tribal district against a recent quad-copter strike entered its fifth day on Friday, with demonstrators vowing to stay put until their demands are met.

The quad-copter dropped explosives on a house in the Hormuz area of Mir Ali earlier this week, killing four children from the same family and critically injuring their mother along with some other women. The attack has triggered widespread outrage, with local tribesmen and activists condemning it as a violation of human rights.

Fingers were pointed the security forces following the tragic incident. However, the military said on May 19 that "these claims are entirely baseless and are part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the security forces' steadfast efforts in the ongoing counterterrorism operations."

The military's media wing added that a comprehensive investigation initiated after the incident has established that "this heinous act has been orchestrated and executed by India-sponsored Fitna Al Khwarij" — a reference to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has officially be designated as such.

"It is evident that these elements — acting at the behest of their Indian masters — continue to exploit civilian areas and vulnerable populations as shields to conduct their reprehensible acts of terrorism," it further stated, adding that such tactics aims to unsuccessfully sow discord between the local population and the security forces.

Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to find a negotiated end to the sit-in. Mufti Baitullah, a spokesperson for the Utmanzai tribe, stated that the district administration had sent a traditional delegation along with two goats and Sufi mediators as part of a Nanawatey (tribal reconciliation gesture). Subsequently, the sit-in organisers postponed a planned march to Islamabad until Monday as a goodwill gesture.

However, Mufti Baitullah warned that if the government fails to address their demands by then, protesters will march to the capital with the bodies of the victims.