Pakistan: Residents of South Waziristan demonstrate against spike in terror activities

The protesters have blocked Wana-Angoor Adda road, Wana-Tank road, Wana-Razmak road and others to protest the rising incidents of target-killing, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, terrorism, militancy and other crimes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and South Waziristan in particular, reports The News International.

Thousands of residents, workers and activists of almost all the political parties, rights activists, civil society members, doctors, lawyers, traders, students from every nook and corner of South Waziristan participated in the demonstration.

The organisers threatened to expand the protest sit-in to other areas if the government did not accept their 10-point agenda of demands forthwith, the newspaper reported.

They said that roads for the government officials would be blocked and their movement would be restricted as a pressure tactic to resolve the longstanding issues of militancy and terrorism and other crimes of heinous nature.

The protesters have gathered at Rustam Adda Bazaar in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan tribal district, to make the government take notice of the poor law and order and acts of terrorism.

The protesters complained that the incidents of target-killing, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom had witnessed an alarming increase in recent months, the newspaper reported.

They said people were forced to come down to the streets to protest amid a spike in terror activities.