18 villages in North Waziristan boycott polio drive

Protests against power outages, tribesmen warn of blocking roads.

MIRANSHAH: Tribesmen from 18 villages in North Waziristan Agency boycotted the polio vaccination campaign in a protest against the government’s in-action to resolve the power crisis.

During a press conference at the Miranshah press club, tribal elders said they will not allow polio teams to immunise their children and threatened to block the  Miranshah-Razmak Road if the massive power outages are not resolved.

Eighteen towns from Kam Sehrobi to Faryatt inhabited  by the Bhora Khel and Mamath Khel tribesmen in the Razmak sub-division of North Waziristan have refused to vaccinate their children,  Malik Jan Faraz Khan told The Express Tribune.

The press conference was held by tribal elders Malik Gul Das Khan, Malik Darus Salam, Malik Said Zaman, Malik Akbar Khan and Malik Madar Khan. “The officials of the anti-polio drive should not come near the line of villages, which starts from Daznarai till  Dangeena” they said.

Tribal elders claimed that an amount of Rs34 million had been allocated by the government for the development of the area, but it is yet to be released. “The political administration has embezzled funds,” they alleged.  The tribesmen have given the government until June 20 to fix the electricity problem.