Mullah Nazir was reportedly killed by a US drone strike. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
DI KHAN:
Tribesmen held a protest, on Saturday, against the killing of Taliban commander of his own faction in a US drone attack more than a week ago, in Shakai tehsil, west of Wana.
They gathered in Shakai Bazaar in large numbers and condemned the killing of Mullah Nazir, terming it a terrorist act by the US.
Drone attacks were a violation of the territorial integrity of Pakistan and the government should take concrete steps to stop drone strikes in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas, especially North and South Waziristan, stated a tribal elder, Dr Mamtaz.
Shakai Bazaar remained closed during the protest and people from the others areas of Shakai Tehsil came and participated in the protest.
Spokesperson for Shakai Taliban Commander Tehsil Khan of the Mullah Nazir Group, Sabar Khan said in a statement, “We will support the newly-appointed Taliban Commander Bahawal Khan, known among militants as Salahudin Ayubi. We will continue Mullah Nazir’s mission and take revenge for his murder.”
Drones cannot discourage or destroy the Taliban, he stated. Their commander’s murder had fuelled the motivation of militants in Wana sub-division, South Waziristan, Sabar added.
A religious cleric Maulana Abidullah said Mullah Nazir had established peace in Wana and had not created hurdles in the way of development work, while addressing the gathering of protesters. All government institutions, like schools and hospitals were functional, he added. “Mullah Nazir’s murder was to provoke unrest in Wana.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 13th, 2013.
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@Basit: No they won't Basit. Nazir was a 'good taliban' and the civil society hates a good taliban more than they hate a 'bad taliban'
Will any civil society speak in support of tribesmen?