Thousands of people took to the streets in Wana, South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday against the rising terror incidents in the tribal area. It follows a series of peace demonstrations held in many districts of the province last year.

“More power to the people of Wana, South Waziristan for their resistance against terrorism,” Mohsin Dawar, MNA from North Waziristan, said in a series of tweets.

Cavalcades from different areas reached Wana city to participate in the demonstrations that were held under the Waziristan Peace Uwalsi Pasoon (Waziristan Aman Awami Tehreek). It started from Rustam Bazaar, Wana, and continued at Aman Chowk. Owners had shut down the shops in solidarity with the protest demonstrators.

They demanded that maintaining peace in the province was the responsibility of the government.

A large number of political and social personalities from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and different districts participated in it. Local leaders of several political parties, the PTI, ANP, JI, JUI NDM, PTM, PkMAP, PPP, local amaideen (tribal elders), and Manzoor Pashteen of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement also took part.

Protesters have blocked the Wana-Dera Ismail Khan central highway as a protest. Videos of the protest were making rounds on social media. It showed a large number of people, believe to be in the thousands, flooding the streets in the area.

A spate of attacks on policemen has occurred since the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) called off the shaky ceasefire agreed with the government in June. The banned group, whose presence was felt months before the end of the truce, had ordered fighters to stage attacks across the country.

What are the demands?

The organiser presented 10 demands in front of the government, which are as follows:

• If the police are required to conduct a search operation or want to take action on the wanted persons or any place, then action should be taken according to the law. If the police need the FC or the army, they can take help under Article 126 (employment of additional police to keep peace) of the Police Order 2002.

• All the provisions of the 1973 Constitution were applicable to the erstwhile federally administered tribal area (FATA) so apart from the Constitution and law, “peace committee, national army or 2007 accord” were not acceptable to them.

• Peace is conditional to the writ of the state in South Waziristan and for this, it should have separate DPO, DC, judges including all line departments should be transferred to Wana

• Jamshed Wazir, the businessman who was kidnapped a few days ago, should be immediately released.

• Police checkpoints should be established in small and big bazaars located in Spin, Azam Warsak, Shikai, Angorada, Zarmlan, and Ragzai police stations. Legal powers and privileges should be given to the police. The closed-down jobs of Levies should be restored and the attendance of the existing police force should be ensured.

• Apart from this, the FC should be deployed on an emergency basis for the protection of police stations, and police posts, and during patrolling.

• Vehicles with tinted glass windows (of government/non-government elements) should be banned indiscriminately and strict action should be taken against violators. They should be arrested and brought to court for legal action.

• Action should be taken against drugs indiscriminately and all kinds of armed organisations and miscreants should be banned.

• The trade barriers on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Angor Ada should be removed, and Pakistani national identity card holders should be allowed to enter the gate.

They warned that the protest could change into a sit-in if demands were not met.

‘Role of locals vital in peace’

“Most of the demands of the protesters have been met,” Wana Assistant Commissioner Yasir Salman Kundi told Aaj News. “Vehicles with tinted glasses have been completely phased out.”

He added that the FC has been posted with the police where needed.

The AC was of the view that the performance of security institutions against terrorists has been very important. He added that 11 terrorists including a key commander were killed the other day in a security operation in Wana.

“And their demand for patrolling and presence of the police in the area have also been made possible,” Kundi said.

He went on to add that the administration, in collaboration with the security institutions, was busy maintaining peace. Kundi highlighted the role of local people in this regard.

“Negotiations are ongoing with the protestors through the tribal leaders. Soon the protestors will announce the end of the protest.”