Anger in Pakistan's South Waziristan over rise in terror incidents, people take to streets

NEW DELHI: Thousands of people in South Waziristan district of Pakistan on Friday staged protest against the recent wave of terrorism in the region and demanded that the civil administration fulfil its responsibilities to restore peace in the area.

Political workers, social activists, traders and youth participated in the protest march and chanted slogans for peace.

Over the past few months, the law and order situation in Pakistan has worsened with terrorist groups like the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic State group, and the Gul Bahadur Group carrying out attacks with near impunity across the country.

Several leaders from political parties including PPP, PTM, PML-N and AWP addressed the rally and blamed the government for failing to control the rise of terrorism in the region.

"No one is safe in Wana, from political leaders to traders, tribal leaders and contractors. Today, thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand peace. We won’t sit quietly until the government guarantees peace,” Awami National Party leader Ayaz Wazir told Dawn.

At least 11 terrorists, including two suicide bombers, were killed during an operation carried out by a Pakistani intelligence-based operation (IBO) in South Waziristan on Thursday, Pakistan's military media wing said.

Earlier, TTP attacked a Pakistan government contractor, Mohammad Nisar's house, who was asked to pay a ransom of Rs 15 million which he refused. He alleged that the TTP member attacked his house in Rawalpindi's Dhamial area with a cracker after he refused to pay the ransom, reported The Dawn.

Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) was also involved in the case's investigation after a first information report (FIR) was registered with the police on Tuesday.

"The Pashtuns of South Waziristan came out in large numbers today in Wana to protest against terrorism and Talibanisation in our areas. Our people refuse to be used as cannon fodder and scapegoats in the new great game being imposed on the region," North Waziristan lawmaker Mohsin Dawar said on Twitter.

About 1,000 people were killed and injured in attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on the Pakistan government in 2022, according to statistics published by the TTP terrorist group, Khaama Press reported.

TTP said in a video, that most of their attacks took place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. They also launched attacks outside the province, Khaama Press reported.

According to the speakers, peace and normalcy are the foundations of socioeconomic development and insecurity and uncertainty were the major causes of the backwardness of the tribal districts.

The speakers said that the decades-long insurgency affected the socioeconomic conditions of the tribal districts which earlier had huge reserves of natural resources. They said that thousands of residents of tribal districts were killed during the militancy and war against terrorism, reported The Dawn.

(With agency inputs)