3 days mourning announced in Waziristan; elders demanded compensation for victims of Dattakhel drone strikes

3 days mourning announced in Waziristan; elders demanded compensation for victims of Dattakhel drone strikes

By Saleem Mehsud

MIRANSHAH, March 18 : Tribesmen of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and Mehsud tribesmen of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Friday announced three days mourning over the killing of innocent people by the US drones in tehsil Dattakhel of NWA.

The environment was tense and full with grief in Dattakhel as over three dozen tribesmen were killed, local sources said, adding that trade activities in the area were abandoned for three days to mourn the death of tribal brethren.

A Grand Jirga of Meshud tribe was held in the political administration compound in Tank district. The jirga strongly condemned the drone strikes which were claiming lives of innocent tribesmen and also demanded compensation for the heirs of those killed in drone strike.

Malik Nasrullah Khan Mehsud, a tribal elder while talking to media persons said that the Mehsud tribesmen expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and demanded the US government to pay compensation to the heirs. Nasrullah also announced three days mourning over the death of innocent tribesmen in NWA.

“The death toll of those killed in Dattakhel drone strike has surged to 45 including five Maliks and influential elders of Wazir tribe,” local sources said. Malik Daud Wazir, his uncle and cousin, Malik Gul Akbar Wazir, his son and nephew, Malik Veran Wazir, Malik Ahmad Jan Wazir and Malik Saddar Wazir were notable and well-known personalities of Dattakhel area who were killed in Dattakhel drone strike, the sources said.

Some of the deceased were buried Thursday while funeral of the remaining deceased was offered on Friday.

“Seven personnel of Khassadar Force were also reportedly killed in the drone strike,” local sources said.

Sources said that commander Sherabat Khan, amir of Dattakhel tehsil, appointed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, along with 12 foot-fighters were also killed in the drone strike. The said commander was there to settle dispute between the tribesmen over chromite mine in Dattakhel when the attack took place. It is pertinent to mention here that all those killed in the drone strike were pro-government people.

Tribesmen in NWA in their separate statements have demanded of the government to take measures to stop US drone attacks.

Report said that Dattakhel drone strike was the most fatal attack since 2010 till to the date in which over 40 tribesmen fell pray to the strike.

However, according to WikiLeaks report our politicians have made commitment with the US government to carryout drone strikes in the tribal area if you can achieve exact target and we will just condemn the strikes on the floor of the house to impress the masses at large.