SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Residents of Azam Warsak, a remote locality of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan district, on Friday staged a protest march against what they described as a deteriorating law and order situation, citing persistent insecurity and threats to civilian life.
The protestors, comprising tribal elders, youth, members of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), and political and social activists, marched towards Wana, the district headquarters, where they held a sit-in to press their demands. The demonstration drew hundreds of participants and caused temporary disruption to traffic movement in the area.
In response, police deployed additional personnel, placed security forces on high alert, and installed barbed wire at sensitive points to prevent any untoward incident. District police officials said these measures were taken purely as precautionary steps to ensure public safety during the protest.
The sit-in continued for around three hours before representatives of the protestors held negotiations with the district administration. Deputy Commissioner Lower South Waziristan Musarrat Zaman and District Police Officer Mohammad Tahir Shah Wazir met with protest leaders, after which the demonstrators agreed to disperse following assurances that their concerns would be addressed.
According to sources, the protestors presented a 10-point charter of demands. The district administration assured them that issues falling within its jurisdiction and that of the police would be resolved within 10 days, while matters related to security forces would be taken up with relevant authorities.
During the protest, residents voiced serious concerns over recurring incidents of bomb explosions, targeted killings, and indiscriminate firing in Birmal tehsil, particularly in the Azam Warsak area. Protestors said the persistent insecurity had created fear and uncertainty, severely affecting daily life and economic activity.
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Participants noted that the situation had worsened over the past year, leaving residents feeling unsafe in their homes. They demanded immediate steps to restore peace, an end to the forced evacuation of civilian houses in the Kaza Panga area, and the safe return and rehabilitation of displaced families.
The protestors also urged security forces to refrain from occupying civilian properties and to stop indiscriminate firing and the use of drones and quadcopters over populated areas, markets, and agricultural land. They called for the immediate removal of security barriers on the Azam Warsak–Wana Road and Sholam Road and demanded that all roads in the district be made safe for public travel.
Addressing the gathering, tribal elders and leaders from PTM, Jamaat-i-Islami, and the Awami National Party reiterated demands for action against targeted killings, bomb blasts, kidnappings for ransom, and extortion. They also called for a ban on tinted windows, public display of weapons, and drug trafficking in local markets, without discrimination.
Residents urged federal and provincial governments to take concrete and sustainable measures to ensure lasting peace in the region, warning that continued instability would further erode public trust and safety.
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