Protest rally: Students denounce airstrikes in North Waziristan Agency
The strikes began a week ago and have sparked protests in many other parts of the country.
The airstrikes, which began about a week ago, have sparked student protests in different parts of the country. PHOTO: ONLINE
DI KHAN:
Students from Gomal University held a protest in the city on Monday against the military’s current offensive in North Waziristan.
Members of the Tribal Students Organisation, Pukhtunkhwa Students Organisation, Insaf Students Federation and Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), came together to condemn the strikes that have allegedly killed over 60 militants.
Demonstrators walked from DI Khan’s city campus to the press club, passing through various bazaars on the way. Gathered at their final destination, participants listened to student leaders who claimed that innocent women and children were killed in the military strikes. They demanded the strikes stop immediately or else the state will have to face widespread protests across the country.
Disgruntled students chanted slogans and carried placards inscribed in Urdu with anti-US and anti-state sentiments, such as “Stop killing our tribesmen to please America,” and “We will not accept operations over negotiations.”
Protesters also held photographs of children they claim have perished in the operation.
“Since 2003, there has been an ongoing military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), especially Waziristan, which has done more damage than good. Military operations in North Waziristan should be stopped immediately because they are killing innocent tribal women and children,” said Manzoor Khan Wazir, President of Tribal Students Organisation, while addressing his fellow students.
Circular Road, which circumvents the city, also remained closed for hours, causing major traffic jams. Police were present at the protest and the rally ended peacefully.
The airstrikes, which began about a week ago, have sparked student protests in other parts of the country as well. Students from Fata who are studying at universities in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi protested at the National Press Club in Islamabad on May 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.
Students from Gomal University held a protest in the city on Monday against the military’s current offensive in North Waziristan.
Members of the Tribal Students Organisation, Pukhtunkhwa Students Organisation, Insaf Students Federation and Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), came together to condemn the strikes that have allegedly killed over 60 militants.
Demonstrators walked from DI Khan’s city campus to the press club, passing through various bazaars on the way. Gathered at their final destination, participants listened to student leaders who claimed that innocent women and children were killed in the military strikes. They demanded the strikes stop immediately or else the state will have to face widespread protests across the country.
Disgruntled students chanted slogans and carried placards inscribed in Urdu with anti-US and anti-state sentiments, such as “Stop killing our tribesmen to please America,” and “We will not accept operations over negotiations.”
Protesters also held photographs of children they claim have perished in the operation.
“Since 2003, there has been an ongoing military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), especially Waziristan, which has done more damage than good. Military operations in North Waziristan should be stopped immediately because they are killing innocent tribal women and children,” said Manzoor Khan Wazir, President of Tribal Students Organisation, while addressing his fellow students.
Circular Road, which circumvents the city, also remained closed for hours, causing major traffic jams. Police were present at the protest and the rally ended peacefully.
The airstrikes, which began about a week ago, have sparked student protests in other parts of the country as well. Students from Fata who are studying at universities in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi protested at the National Press Club in Islamabad on May 24.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.