The operation against suspected al Qaeda operatives and their alleged hosts in Wana, headquarters of the South Waziristan Agency has brought to standstill all business activity in this remote town bordering with Afghanistan.
According to tribal 'Maliks' and businessmen of Wana, the prices of daily use commodities are registering unprecedented upward trend, and particularly the price of wheat flour has touched a peak as the price of 80 kg bag of flour, which used to cost Rs 800, is being sold at Rs 1200.
More than 700 shops have been sealed under FCR to prevent them from doing business A total of 223 shops are sealed in only Wana Bazaar while 400 shops are closed in the volatile town of Azam Warsak.
The other business concerns closed with the aim to punish the tribesmen for their suspected hosting of al Qaeda and Taleban elements also include a dozen filling stations, hotels and two fruit and vegetable markets, in Wana only. "These shops are closed for last two months, due to which the tribesmen are facing a lot of problems, particularly in purchase of daily used items," said Malik Behram Wazir.
One tribal journalist said that due to the fear of arrest under collective responsibility of the tribes, truckers have refrained from transporting wheat to the lone flour mill in Wana bazaar resulting in virtual closure of the mill.
The political administration has also imposed section 144 for first time in the history of the South Waziristan Agency in its headquarter Wana on display of arms. Weapons are considered jewellery of men in tribal areas due to which they are converting from heavy weapons like Kalashnikov to pistol.
"The price of the Russian made pistol, which was just Rs 5000 two months back, is now sold at Rs 35000," remarked Farid Khan, a young tribesman hanging a Kalashnikov rifle from his shoulder.
The law is so harsh that even the vehicles and buildings of the suspected tribe situated outside the agency are not safe.
A hotel of a tribal belonging to Yargulkhel tribe was also closed down in D I Khan, which was later reopened on intervention of district administration. "The loss to the tribesmen of Wana and its surrounding areas amounts to about Rs 600 million since the launching of operation in Wana," Behram said.
"The acts of the government taken in the garb of operation is also increasing unemployment in the backward tribal belt, which instead of eliminating terrorism create sympathy for alleged terrorists in the area," said Rafique a student in Lahore said.
The other business hit by the operation are supply of weapons, non-customs paid vehicles, electronics and cosmetics from Afghanistan, which are now totally stopped rendering the youth of Waziristan jobless.
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