Back to normalcy: NWA traders demand compensation for losses from govt

Say governor has not fulfilled promises as yet.

MIRANSHAH: The traders of North Waziristan Agency have demanded the government  compensate them for the losses incurred by the community during Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Businessmen and shopkeepers of Mirali, Miranshah and Dattakhel tehsils of the agency held a meeting in Bannu Township on Wednesday. A large number of traders was present on the occasion.

Addressing the attendees, an elder of an NWA traders union Abdul Hameed said the tribespeople left functioning businesses, shops, markets and even their own houses so that action could be initiated against the militants.



He added that they vacated the agency within three days and during the time they have been away, around 30,000 shops have been destroyed in the agency.

He demanded the government compensate them so that they can restore their businesses.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor, said Hameed, had promised a jirga that the government would facilitate but no practical step regarding the issue has been taken as yet. He also questioned that when they were made to evacuate their hometowns in only three days then why was the repatriation being delayed.

Other speakers present on the occasion asked the traders and shopkeepers to submit estimated details of their losses in the next meeting that will be conducted on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2015.