Pamphlet seeks ban on non-locals hunting crane

Asks govt to prohibit outsiders from entering North Waziristan.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A pamphlet requesting the government to ban non-locals from hunting crane in South Waziristan was distributed in Wana’s Rustham Bazaar on Tuesday.

The single page pamphlet, written in Urdu, requests the government to ban non-local crane hunters from entering Waziristan due to security concerns.

“The recent burning of vehicles on Gomal Zam Road and cases of kidnapping for ransom are examples of such events,” read the pamphlet.

Kidnappings occur on a daily basis in South Waziristan and non-locals are often abducted for ransom. As a result, the government has imposed heavy fines upon the Ahmadzai tribe under the collective responsibility cause and has also stopped salaries of some local administration officials.

The pamphlet was distributed by Wana Aman Committe and tribal elders of the Zermilan area because they do not want to be held responsible for the security of non-locals and want to prevent the Ahmadzai tribe from being fined any further.

“The migratory route of cranes passes over South Waziristan,” said Ehsan Wazir, head of the Waziristan Nature Conservation Organisation. He added crane hunters set up camps in areas like Zermilan, Spin, Dap Kot, Ghewakha and Azam Warsak each year from March 12 to April 10 to prey on the large birds.

Wazir said hunters come to South Waziristan because there is no law in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) regarding the protection of wildlife. He maintained the government was not serious about protecting the region’s wildlife and that crane hunters could be stopped from entering South Waziristan if authorities show their willingness. Wazir also claimed that cranes are openly bought and sold during the weekly Daram Mela (Monday Mela) held in Bannu.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2013.