FC Fort attack: Jirga given 2 days to produce suspects

Political administration, security officials meet peace jirga.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

Officials of the military and political administration of South Waziristan met a 120-member jirga at Wana Scouts camp on Monday. The jirga included elders and religious clerics of the Ahmadzai tribe.

Various tribes of Spin, an area part of the Toi Khulla tehsil in Wana sub-division, were given two days to produce tribesmen who were involved in facilitating militants that attacked the Toi Khulla Fort of the Frontier Corps, an official of the political administration told The Express Tribune. Militants were also provided with vehicles to transport their injured to Spin for treatment.

The Toi Khulla Fort was attacked by militants on November 9, killing one security official and injuring another. During the attack, six militants were also killed and 13 injured. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson Asimullah Mehsud, claimed responsibility for the attack.

FC Commander Ali Atif, the assistant political agent of Wana, and other military and civilian officials were also present at the jirga.

Uthman Khel, Kaka Khel and Yargul Khel among other sub-clans of the Ahmadzai tribe, have also been given the Wednesday deadline. If they fail to do so, action will be taken against the tribe under the collective and territorial responsibilities clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR). A search operation could also be carried out and the tribe may be forced to leave and sent to Tank and DI Khan as internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The jirga, however, demanded for more time as some of the notable tribal elders are attending the Tableeghee Ijthema in Raiwind, Lahore. APA Shahid Ali rejected the jirga’s demand, saying that this is a serious matter and told the jirga to call the elders visiting Lahore and address the issue.

On Sunday, security and political administration officials also held a jirga with the Dottani and Suleman Khel tribes of the Toi Khulla tehsil. The jirga was warned to produce the suspects who assisted the militants by providing them sanctuary, vehicles or any kind of help.

The tribe’s movement will be restricted to one kilometer around the Toi Khulla Fort if they fail to find the men and action will be taken against them under the FCR.

Notices issued

The government issued notices to several tribes, including the Mughal Khel and Karmaz Khel tribe, for the abduction of six Frontier Workers Organisation workers in Nerai Yeba area about a month ago.

The Suleman Khel and the Dottani tribe were issued notices over an attack on a security check post in Khan Khot in the Toi Khulla tehsil. Additionally, the Utham Khel tribe was issued a notice over the kidnapping of two WAPDA workers in Tanai area, who were abducted on October 6. The workers were recovered on October 16.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2012.