PESHAWAR: People of Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal district announced their decision to call off a weeklong protest on Thursday evening after local authorities promised to meet their demands by deploying additional police force to deal with increased incidents of lawlessness.
The sit-in was organized in Wana, the largest settlement of the district which was once infested by militant outfits, and it attracted a large number of people belonging to all walks of life.
Yasir Salman Kundi, the assistant commissioner of the area, confirmed while speaking to Arab News that district administration officials and representatives of protesters had succeeded in reaching an agreement which made the demonstrators end the sit-in.
“The sit-in has been called off after a marathon round of talks between the local administration and demonstrators,” he said. “Most of the demands made by the protesters related to police and security and we have devised a comprehensive mechanism to ensure the protection of the city.”
Earlier, people participating in the demonstration complained of rising incidents of extortion, kidnapping for ransom and extremist violence while asking the authorities to deal with the armed factions to strengthen the security of the area.
Shakir Wazir, a local tribesman who participated in the protest, said the residents of Wana had ended the sit-in after the authorities assured them to deploy greater number of police personnel, ban any display of weapons in the main business hub, and crack down on armed factions.
“We also demanded a ban on vehicles with tinted glasses and action against extortionists,” he added.
The assistant commissioner told Arab News the protesters were assured that night vision equipment would be installed in all the sensitive police stations which would have a link with the Frontier Constabulary to ensure greater coordination and swift action to deal with any incident of lawlessness.
“Vehicles with tinted glasses will not be allowed in Wana,” he continued. “The shortage of police personnel will be addressed and maximum facilities will be offered to traders at Angoor Adda, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point.”
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in extremist violence in recent weeks after a proscribed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), unilaterally ended its cease-fire with the government last November.
The large number of people in protest in Wana reflected the intensity of public outcry against lawlessness in the city.
A similar sit-in was also held last week by political workers, social activists and traders in Bajaur tribal district who demanded peace and security while condemning growing incidents of militant violence.
“Police eagle squad and mobile vans will start patrolling in and around the city to enhance security,” Kundi said. “More police check posts will be made functional within the next few days at the exit and entry points of Wana to discourage armed individuals and anti-social elements from indulging in criminal activities. Construction work on new police stations in the area has already started.”
