Collateral damage...: Twin sisters die as mortars hit residences
Nine other houses damaged in crossfire.
After the funeral prayers, residents of Darpa Khel marched towards Miranshah Press Club and protested against the assault. PHOTO: FILE
MIRANSHAH:
Waja and Wajeeha Hassan came and left the world together. The twin sisters died after a mortar shell struck their house in Darpa Khel village of Miranshah, North Waziristan on Friday afternoon.
A political administration official said unidentified militants opened fire at Amin check post in Miranshah at around 2:00am. Security forces retaliated and the ensuing crossfire claimed two innocent lives. Nine other houses were reportedly damaged in the incident.
Noor Shah said his twin daughters were buried in the debris of their house. Despite heavy gunfire and curfew, neighbours rushed to rescue the girls, but their condition was too critical by then.
“All I had were my twin daughters … The girls had taken their FSc exams for second year. Their last exam, a biology practical, was on Thursday morning. Both my daughters wanted to become doctors and serve humanity,” said Shah.
Shah said he could not shift his daughters to a hospital due to a night time curfew in the area. “My daughters died in front of my eyes because I couldn’t provide them medical care,” he added.
Waja and Wajeeha’s mother lost consciousness following the incident. “Her entire world surrounded around her daughters,” her husband said.
Scores of tribesmen from Darpa Khel and Miranshah village attended the funeral prayers for the girls. After the prayers, residents of Darpa Khel marched towards Miranshah Press Club and protested against the assault.
They demanded the K-P governor and president of Pakistan take notice of the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2013.
Waja and Wajeeha Hassan came and left the world together. The twin sisters died after a mortar shell struck their house in Darpa Khel village of Miranshah, North Waziristan on Friday afternoon.
A political administration official said unidentified militants opened fire at Amin check post in Miranshah at around 2:00am. Security forces retaliated and the ensuing crossfire claimed two innocent lives. Nine other houses were reportedly damaged in the incident.
Noor Shah said his twin daughters were buried in the debris of their house. Despite heavy gunfire and curfew, neighbours rushed to rescue the girls, but their condition was too critical by then.
“All I had were my twin daughters … The girls had taken their FSc exams for second year. Their last exam, a biology practical, was on Thursday morning. Both my daughters wanted to become doctors and serve humanity,” said Shah.
Shah said he could not shift his daughters to a hospital due to a night time curfew in the area. “My daughters died in front of my eyes because I couldn’t provide them medical care,” he added.
Waja and Wajeeha’s mother lost consciousness following the incident. “Her entire world surrounded around her daughters,” her husband said.
Scores of tribesmen from Darpa Khel and Miranshah village attended the funeral prayers for the girls. After the prayers, residents of Darpa Khel marched towards Miranshah Press Club and protested against the assault.
They demanded the K-P governor and president of Pakistan take notice of the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2013.