NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Two members of the National Assembly (MNAs) associated with the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) were responsible for last Sunday’s attack on the Khar Kamar checkpost in North Waziristan, according to a report issued by the tribal district’s deputy commissioner to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government.
According to the report, a copy of which is available with Geo News, MNAs Mohsin Javed Dawar and Ali Wazir goaded the protestors to attack the check post in Boyya, North Waziristan.
The report says: “Area of Tochi Valley specially Datta Khel, Alwara, Admi Kot, Doga Macha, Zangotai, Khar Kamar, Degan, Land, Muhammad Khel, Boya, Hamzoni Valley, and going uptill Hassu Khel (Mirali) have always been a hot spot and troublesome with regard to maintenance of law and order situation.
“Security forces have regularly been targeted either in the form of physical attacks, ambushes, fire raids, rocket attacks or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” it adds further.
Describing in detail the recent attacks, which originated on April 29, the report notes that in total, 13 local people died whereas 25 were injured whereas one military person was dead and seven injured.
It states: “On 29 April 2019, Party of Army personnel moving in Datta Khel area was ambushed in which three Army Sepoys embraced Shahadat and four got injured.
“Similarly, on 1 May 19 multiple attacks were launched on fencing party in Alwara area in which four Soldiers again embraced Shahadat and seventeen got injured.
The DC’s report goes on to explain how Pakistan Army launched an operation to remove terrorist presence from the area.
“To clear the area from presence of any further Terrorist Activity and to make it safe, Army units launched their clearance operation on 24 May 2019. During this operation two suspects were arrested.
“To protest against the arrest of these individuals, a group of people from Doga Macha village marched towards Khar Kamar check point and damaged the installed security barrier and raised anti state slogans however, Army showed restraint and did not respond.
“On the evening of 25th May 2019, a Jirga of twelve Maliks of Doga was held at Boya and as a result of negotiations, one suspect was released after initial investigations with the condition of dispersal of protestors,” it reads.
The report mentions: “However, on the instigation of MNA Ali Wazir and Mohsin Javed Dawar, the protestors again gathered near Check Post at night.
“On 26 May 19, MNA Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir entered NWTD from Saidgai Check Post and reached Khar Kamar Check Post at 09:30 am, approx 300-350 protestors were gathered.
“Troops at first barrier requested MNAs to join the protestors’ camp using the alternate route and not the main road and in return, Ali Wazir used abusive language against the Army and instigated the crowd to attack the post. On this instigation, protestors started intense stone pelting and armed men with Parliamentarians also started firing at the post.
“Thereafter, Army troops fired warning shots and asked protestors not to get close to the post and to stop the fire immediately. […] Meanwhile, protestors charged at the post and reached within troops’ deployment and tried to snatch weapons,” it states.
According to the report, “the Fire [from the check post] was opened only for very short duration.
“However, firing continued from the miscreants and the bullets hit the fleeing protestors and MNAs vehicle,” it stresses.
Earlier, following the Khar Kamar clash, PTM’s Dawar explained his viewpoint, wherein he said he and Wazir were travelling to the area to express solidarity with the protesters when, upon reaching the check post, protesters chanted in their support.
When the protesters were chanting, there was firing from behind us, he had said.
On Thursday, Dawar, the PTM leader, was reportedly arrested from North Waziristan tribal district, presented before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Bannu, and susbequently remanded in the custody of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for eight days.
“Accused is remanded to police for eight (08) days subject to pre and post medical checkup. Accused be re-produced before the court on dated 07/06/2019 (June 7),” an order — handed down by ATC Special Judge Babar Ali Khan — read.
Dawar’s lawyer had said the MNA had voluntarily surrendered himself into the custody of law enforcement personnel following a decision by a tribal jirga.
Dawar was at large following the check post attack in North Waziristan. He, along with eight others, had been nominated in a first information report (FIR) of the attack.
According to Pakistan Army’s media wing, “a group led by Mohsin Javed and Ali Wazir, assaulted Kharqamar check post, Boyya, North Waziristan tribal district on Sunday morning.
“They wanted to exert pressure for the release of suspected terrorists’ facilitator arrested the other day,” the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said.
“Troops at the check post exercised maximum restraint in the face of provocation and direct firing on the post,” the military’s media wing had said.
Wazir, the MNA, had also been arrested and, on Monday, an ATC granted an eight-day physical remand to the CTD officials.
