Army personnel stand guard in the Sultanabad area while election commission staff complete the housing census in the area on Friday. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS
Bara tribesmen have threatened to launch another series of protests if the government fails to halt military operation in Bara and lift curfew within a 48-hour deadline. promises made by the government are not fulfilled.
A jirga comprising 200 elders including political and religious party leaders and relatives of the Alam Gudar victims, which met on Saturday, demanded Governor Barrister Masood Kausar to form a judicial commission to investigate the Alam Gudar killings and compensate the victims’ families.
Iqbal Afridi a local PTI leader said that tribal elders were unsure if the promises made by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor and the political administration in the wake of the protest in Peshawar would be honoured.
“We have contacted the political agent (PA) of Khyber Agency, Mutahir Zaib and he has convened a jirga on Monday at 10am at the PA House Khyber,” he added.
Iqbal said the confusion occurred because of the use of force against protesters by Peshawar police. The PA has also assured us that the promises made to the bereaved families would be fulfilled, he added.
Afridi said they were satisfied that the FC commandant Col Naeem Sarwar had been transferred in accordance with their demand.
Leader of Jamaat-i-Islami Shah Faisal Afridi said if the governor didn’t fulfill their demands they would start another series of protests across the country. He added said that he was not sure whether the government would be able to halt the military offensive.
“The rest of the demands are practicable.” The tribesmen’s demands included clearing roads and marketplaces.
The governor and political agent were compelled to announce compensation of Rs400,000 and Rs300,000 respectively due to our protests, he added.
The jirga members included Pakistan Peoples Party minister Malik Waris Khan Afridi, Awami National Party leader Malik Imran Afridi and Malik Hanan, former senator Nasir Khan and Bara trade union president Maqbali Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2013.
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@Tufan
It wasn't a military op. but a search operation. Most of those killed in Bara were old (white beard) men, taken out of their homes.
They may happen to be the relatives but not the actual targets. (IMO) These extra-judicial killings need to be stopped. Its further worsening the situations of tribal areas.
people should take a clear stand. Either they want to enslave them selves to terrorists or want to get rid of them. Colatteral damage is part of every military compaign. What about those soldiers and their families who laid their lives in line of duty. People, media nd political parties should show patience and mature attitude. If they are against military operations, they simply have to order the armed forces of Pakistan to fall back.