The Fata Lawyers Forum, an association of Peshawar-based tribal lawyers, has demanded immediate end to the ongoing military operation in Waziristan, lifting curfew and constitution of an impartial commission to resolve the matter through negotiations.
Fata Lawyers Forum President A Karim Mahsud, flanked by Peshawar High Court (PHC) Bar Association President Mohammad Iqbal Mohmand and senior members Barrister Baacha, Mohammad Khurshid, Ghulam Nabi and Taj Mahal Afridi, was addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Monday.
The lawyers' forum suggested that the proposed commission should have representation of elders from all tribal agencies, members of the parliament from both treasury and opposition benches.
They also called for the return of military to their barracks from tribal areas.
Mahsud said that innocent tribesmen were being killed since the launching of bloody operation in Miranshah and Mir Ali tehsils of the North Waziristan Agency, forcing residents to evacuate the area for safety.
The lawyer leader said the poor tribesmen were left at the mercy of blind bullets and shelling from military helicopters, as the people do not have transport arrangements to leave the restive area safely.
"Houses, schools, hospitals and mosques have become insecure for the tribesmen," he added.
He said a private medical facility of Dr Fazal Ghani in Miranshah, built with millions of rupees, was destroyed through bombs and explosives.
He said such kind of acts by the security forces were totally illegal and did not cover by any collective and domestic tribal laws, adding that the reports of the government agencies were wrong and the activities going on in the area were based on mala fide intentions.
According to Geneva Charter, "governments have no right to demolish worship places, medical and education facilities or their destruction through planting of explosives."
"The ongoing operation was resulting in the shifting of doctors and other staffers of the health facilities to either Bannu or Peshawar. The business activities have come to standstill; shops have been closed while bazaars are wearing a deserted look," he added. "The area has been hit by shortage of edibles and lacking the facilities of schools and medical," Fata Lawyers Forum president maintained.
The whole drama, he said was being staged to appease US President George W Bush on his visit to Pakistan and mint money from him. "Whenever any US official visits Pakistan, our rulers resort to altering innocent tribesmen to get their appeasement," said Mahsud.
They demanded of the government of Pakistan to honourably repatriate all Afghan Refugees to Afghanistan or grant them citizenship to minimise burden on the economies and people of both Fata and settled areas of the province.
They accused the government of intentionally creating unrest in the tribal region and called for the abolition of the double standard with immediate effect.
They also called for the compensation of all those tribesmen whose properties had been damaged and release of all innocent tribesmen.
They urged the rulers to confess their failure in maintenance of law and order, resign from their offices and constitute impartial election commission to hold mid-term polls in the country.
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