Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Thousands of locals, on January 7, staged a protest demonstration in the South Waziristan region and chanted slogans against a surge in terrorism in the tribal district, against the deteriorating law and order in the area.
According to reports, peaceful protesters holding white flags and beating traditional drums demanded the government play its role in maintaining law and order in the province, particularly in the merged tribal districts. The protests took place at Rustam Bazaar in Wana.
Reportedly, the protesters included leaders belonging to different political parties like the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), National Democratic Movement (NDM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP). Moreover, Civil society organisations, lawyers, traders and the general public joined the rally to show their support.
Meanwhile, on January 5, the security forces killed 11 terrorists in an operation in the South Waziristan district’s Wana area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
They also warned the authorities that protests in the area would continue until the elimination of the terrorists from the tribal region.
“While conducting the intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area, the security forces successfully “foiled a high-profile terrorist activity”, the military’s media wing said
About 1,000 people were killed and injured in attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan on the Pakistan Government in 2022.
According to statistics published by the TTP terrorist group
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 region.
A member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan Mohsin Dawar said in a tweet that the Pashtuns of South Waziristan came out in large numbers today in Wana to protest against terrorism “and Talibanisation in our areas”.
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. #وانا__اولسي_پاڅون pic.twitter.com/uoD3qqaYlt
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) January 6, 2023
“Our people refuse to be used as cannon fodder and scapegoats in the new great game being imposed on the region,” he added.
The protest comes a day after security forces killed at least 11 terrorists, including a militant commander and two suicide bombers, in an intelligence-based operation in Wana. The military’s media wing said security forces successfully foiled a high-profile terrorist activity” during the operation.
The action came after the country’s top security body in its meeting held earlier this week had reiterated its resolve to have “zero tolerance” for terrorism in the country.
There has been a 51 per cent increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Since then, over 420 terrorist attacks were recorded in Pakistan. In three months alone, the banned TTP claimed responsibility for 141 attacks, despite the fact that the banned militant group announced an indefinite ceasefire in June.
The TTP ended the truce on November 28, accusing Pakistan of violating the terms of engagement.
