Creative demonstration: Waziri tribesmen stage ‘dancing protest’

Hundreds in North Waziristan perform Attan against transfer of college.

MIRANSHAH:

Tribesmen in North Waziristan adopted a unique way to protest the transfer of a proposed local medical college by performing a local dance, the Wazir Attan.

In a grand jirga held by the Uthmanzai and Dawar tribes in the Pir Kallay village, hundreds hailing from different local tribes performed the traditional dance to drumbeats, demanding that the government halt the transfer of the medical college from North Waziristan to the Bajaur Agency. The area is considered among the most dangerous places in the world.

Wednesday’s protest, however, provided a sense of relief by cheering the locals, despite the sensitive reasons behind it. It also stood out as an act of defiance towards the militants in the area who have banned all musical and recreational activities.

President of the Action Committee Khalilur Rahman in his address to the protesters claimed certain elements were conspiring against the people of North Waziristan and wanted the transfer of both Fata Medical College and Cadet College Razmak from the region. Recalling an agreement regarding the medical college signed by a North Waziristan political agent in 2007, he maintained they wanted to resolve the issue through dialogue. He warned however, that in case the government failed to take notice, they will “protest in a much stronger way and go on hunger strikes in front of parliament.”

Other speakers at the protest also warned they would extend their protests from Miranshah to Islamabad.

The jirga was presided over by North Waziristani tribal elders including Maulvi Naik Zaman and Shahjehan, the chief of the Kabal Khel tribe. The elders said land had already been allocated for the medical college and because of political pressure and some unknown reasons it was being shifted elsewhere.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2012.