The Pashtun people of Waziristan held a protest sit-in for four days in front of the Pakistan army’s fort in Khesur area of South Waziristan. This protest sit-in was not just for the lack of basic amenities of life and against the killings in prisons and court killings by the state armed forces. Despite the presence of a large number of armed forces in North Waziristan, South Waziristan and the whole of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the rise of organized crime and the return of militancy has fueled fear among the people. Desecration of women at check posts, blockades and violation of the sanctity inside people’s homes have left people in agony.Gul Wali son of Gul Muhammad Khan Chag Ragzai, Khaisur Tehsil Tirzah, South Waziristan, a father of five daughters and three sons, was arrested by FC from his home on 14th May. On the same day, May 14, the FC arrested Musa son of Gul Badshah, a father of two daughters and four sons, from his house in Sarugai Chag Ragzai, tehsil of Khysore. On May 3, Muhammad son Jamkani, a resident of Wazi Fort, Khesur, father of one daughter and two sons, was arrested. A few days later Musa’s son Gul Badshah was released by FC. However, a few days later, the family of Gul Wali was informed that he had committed suicide while in custody. Gul Wali’s family members said that he did not commit suicide and was tortured to death in custody. The family tried to find out the crime of Gul Wali but did not get any support or information from the authorities. Gul Wali worked as a cowherd to support his family and household and was not involved in any illegal activities. He was not produced in any court and after his death, his body was not handed over to the family for several days. The authorities have asked Gul Wali’s family to sign a declaration that read, “Gul Wali’s family acknowledges that Gul Wali was a terrorist and engaged in terrorist activities.” While the fact is that Gul Wali was a cowherd and was not involved in any kind of terrorism. The extreme cruelty is that on one hand our children are abducted without any crime and then tortured, and then we are pressured to sign official documents declaring children to be terrorists, the family lamented. The family members of Muhammad, son of Jamkani participated in the sit-in which continued for four days. On May 3, he was abducted from his home by Armed Forces FC. Since the abduction, Muhammad’s family has not been informed or visited, nor has Muhammad been produced in any court. Muhammad’s family says that Muhammad runs his business in Dera Ismail Khan and had come to his village for two days. We were worried that Muhammad might have been severely tortured, his family said. Muhammad’s daughter and son are undergoing severe trauma at the moment. Muhammad’s children are repeatedly asking when their father will return home.For four days, the people of Khaisur and other areas staged a dharna in front of Tehsil Tereza Jessore military fort to hand over the dead body of Gul Wali and recover Muhammad. The sit-in was held under the demands that those behind Gul Wali’s killing should be tried by the court and no further illegal detentions should take place. If a person is to be arrested then an FIR should be registered and if the authorities arrest a person they will immediately hand him over to the local police and the police will produce the arrested person in court. The use of drone cameras should be stopped throughout Waziristan, and check posts in public places in Waziristan should be abolished.
Pakistan’s mainstream media did not report anything about the sit-in that continued for four days in Khaisur, South Waziristan. Nor did any government representative visit the sit-in. A large number of activists and leaders of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), a major human rights and civil rights organization, participated in the sit-in. PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen also brought the situation in South Waziristan to the world’s notice. The silence of the media, judiciary and authorities is very discouraging. Nevertheless, we hope for the day when extra-judicial killings come to an end and the Pashtun belt breathes in peace.