PAKISTAN: MILITANT HIDEOUT IN WAZIRISTAN BLOWN UP
Miran Shah, 9 March (AKI/DAWN) - Pakistani security forces have expanded their military operation beyond Miran Shah in the tribal area of North Waziristan Agency and blown up militant hide-outs in the Datakhel area. Officials said army and paramilitary troops had begun a clean-up operation against militants in the agency following clashes with the pro-Taliban militants in the tribal area which lies on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
The officials said that the troops had blown up the hide-outs of the militants in Datakhel area near the main North Waziristan town of Miran Shah. On Tuesday they demolished the religious school of Maulvi Abdul Khaliq, one of the militant clerics believed to be leading the pro-Taliban militants in the area.
The top regional administrator, Syed Zaheerul Islam survived an attempt on his life on Tuesday evening, when his vehicle was attacked near Mirali. His guard however was killed while another sustained injuries in the attack.
Sources said militants had fired a rocket on the vehicle in the Nowrak area, about five kilometres west of Mirali. However, Islam escaped unhurt.
Reports say that tension is high in Miran Shah and other areas, while the bazaars and business places remain deserted.
The Pakistan army has been battling Islamic militants in the Waziristan region since Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters fled into the area after the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Tens of thousands of Pakistani soldiers were sent into the area in 2003.
Meanwhile in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar, lawyers and students from the tribal areas demonstrated against the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency and demanded that the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should take action against the atrocities and human rights violation there.
Protesters gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against president Musharraf, US president George W. Bush and called for an end to operations in the tribal areas.
Speaking to the demonstrators, Fata Lawyers Forum president Karim Mahsud said that an independent parliamentary and judicial commission should be formed to investigate the situation.
"The recent string of operations was launched in Miran Shah to please president Bush before his arrival to Islamabad," Mahsud said.
He said that around 99 percent of the local residents had been killed in the operation in the Dandey Saidgay area last week.
He urged the government and human rights organisations to take notice of the large-scale displacement of innocent tribesmen in the North Waziristan Agency. “There is no security, no food, no medical facilities and no electricity,” he added.
The government should provide food and lodging for the displaced people in other areas, he said.
Ejaz Mohmand, the general secretary of the Fata Lawyers Forum, said the government should call off the military operation and initiate talks with the tribal people to defuse the situation.
"The government is receiving dollars in return for killing the tribesmen," he said.
The officials said that the troops had blown up the hide-outs of the militants in Datakhel area near the main North Waziristan town of Miran Shah. On Tuesday they demolished the religious school of Maulvi Abdul Khaliq, one of the militant clerics believed to be leading the pro-Taliban militants in the area.
The top regional administrator, Syed Zaheerul Islam survived an attempt on his life on Tuesday evening, when his vehicle was attacked near Mirali. His guard however was killed while another sustained injuries in the attack.
Sources said militants had fired a rocket on the vehicle in the Nowrak area, about five kilometres west of Mirali. However, Islam escaped unhurt.
Reports say that tension is high in Miran Shah and other areas, while the bazaars and business places remain deserted.
The Pakistan army has been battling Islamic militants in the Waziristan region since Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters fled into the area after the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Tens of thousands of Pakistani soldiers were sent into the area in 2003.
Meanwhile in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar, lawyers and students from the tribal areas demonstrated against the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency and demanded that the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should take action against the atrocities and human rights violation there.
Protesters gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against president Musharraf, US president George W. Bush and called for an end to operations in the tribal areas.
Speaking to the demonstrators, Fata Lawyers Forum president Karim Mahsud said that an independent parliamentary and judicial commission should be formed to investigate the situation.
"The recent string of operations was launched in Miran Shah to please president Bush before his arrival to Islamabad," Mahsud said.
He said that around 99 percent of the local residents had been killed in the operation in the Dandey Saidgay area last week.
He urged the government and human rights organisations to take notice of the large-scale displacement of innocent tribesmen in the North Waziristan Agency. “There is no security, no food, no medical facilities and no electricity,” he added.
The government should provide food and lodging for the displaced people in other areas, he said.
Ejaz Mohmand, the general secretary of the Fata Lawyers Forum, said the government should call off the military operation and initiate talks with the tribal people to defuse the situation.
"The government is receiving dollars in return for killing the tribesmen," he said.
posted by Marko at 3/09/2006 08:40:00 AM
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