Dozens of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan staged protest rally outside the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, saying they were observing the Independence Day of Pakistan as ‘black day’ and demanded end to military operation and early repatriation to their hometowns.
Having association with Faqir Ipi Tanzeem (organisation), the protesters chanted ‘Waziristan Zindabad’ (Long live Waziristan) and said they were homeless within their homeland. “How we can celebrate the Independence Day when we are away from our homes and living a refugee life in our own country,” said Malik Mohammad Noor, who was leading the protest rally.
He said that the security forces had claimed to have cleared most of their areas from the militants, but still they were not allowed to go back to their homes in Mirali, Miranshah and other tehsils of North Waziristan.
He said majority of the IDPs from North Waziristan had taken shelter in schools and other government buildings in Bannu district but now they were told to leave these buildings within 10 days. “Where will we go now? We want to go back to our own homes in Waziristan,” Malik Mohammad Noor added.
Another IDP from North Waziristan, Nasir Jamal, told this scribe that they were observing August 14 as black day to compel the government to let them go home.“We have left all our belongings there and God knows what happened to our grains, standing crops and other belongings,” he said, questioned how they could celebrate Independence Day while being homeless.
He said they were not against the security forces or military operations but added that if their areas had been cleared from militants, why the government was reluctant to send them back. Another displaced person from Miranshah, Ali, said that instead of announcing ration and cash amount, the government should allow the displaced people to return to their homes in North Waziristan.
“We have learnt that our homes and shops have been either damaged or destroyed during the military operation,” he said, adding that the government should compensate the affected people, rebuild infrastructure and rehabilitate the victims.
The protestors peacefully dispersed after chanting slogans in favour of Waziristan. However, none of them raised slogans against the military operation or Pakistan on the Independence Day.
Friday, August 15, 2014
North Waziristan IDPs stage protest in Peshawar
Dozens of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan staged protest rally outside the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, saying they were observing the Independence Day of Pakistan as ‘black day’ and demanded end to military operation and early repatriation to their hometowns.
Having association with Faqir Ipi Tanzeem (organisation), the protesters chanted ‘Waziristan Zindabad’ (Long live Waziristan) and said they were homeless within their homeland. “How we can celebrate the Independence Day when we are away from our homes and living a refugee life in our own country,” said Malik Mohammad Noor, who was leading the protest rally.
He said that the security forces had claimed to have cleared most of their areas from the militants, but still they were not allowed to go back to their homes in Mirali, Miranshah and other tehsils of North Waziristan.
He said majority of the IDPs from North Waziristan had taken shelter in schools and other government buildings in Bannu district but now they were told to leave these buildings within 10 days. “Where will we go now? We want to go back to our own homes in Waziristan,” Malik Mohammad Noor added.
Another IDP from North Waziristan, Nasir Jamal, told this scribe that they were observing August 14 as black day to compel the government to let them go home.“We have left all our belongings there and God knows what happened to our grains, standing crops and other belongings,” he said, questioned how they could celebrate Independence Day while being homeless.
He said they were not against the security forces or military operations but added that if their areas had been cleared from militants, why the government was reluctant to send them back. Another displaced person from Miranshah, Ali, said that instead of announcing ration and cash amount, the government should allow the displaced people to return to their homes in North Waziristan.
“We have learnt that our homes and shops have been either damaged or destroyed during the military operation,” he said, adding that the government should compensate the affected people, rebuild infrastructure and rehabilitate the victims.
The protestors peacefully dispersed after chanting slogans in favour of Waziristan. However, none of them raised slogans against the military operation or Pakistan on the Independence Day.
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