- Title: PAKISTAN: Minister criticises Pakistan government over N Waziristan refugees
- Date: 2nd July 2014
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JULY 1, 2014) (REUTERS) HEAD OF JAMAAT-I-ISLAMI, AND SENIOR MINISTER IN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF KHYBER PAKHTUKHWA PROVINCE, SIRAJ UL HAQ, SEATED FOR NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SENIOR MINISTER IN THE KHYBER PAKHTUKHWA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, SIRAJ UL HAQ, SAYING: "North Waziristan has once again been hit by a human tragedy. Many l
- Embargoed: 17th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Conflict,Politics,Social Services / Welfare
- Reuters ID: LVAEHS5AB9YPSSPGJJT484HDEWU8
- Story Text: The chief of the Islamic Jamaat-i-Islami party criticises the Pakistani government for not doing enough for the tens of thousands of refugees from North Waziristan displaced by a military operation to oust Taliban militants from their region.
The Chief of Pakistan's Islamic Jamat-i-Islami party on Tuesday (July 1) criticised the federal government over its response to the tens of thousands of people displaced by a military operation against Taliban militants.
Siraj ul Haq, who is also a minister in the Khyber Pakhtukhwa provincial government, said the refugee crisis had caused great hardship for many people.
"North Waziristan has once again been hit by a human tragedy. Many large tribes live in this region, who have become scattered and homeless because of this (military) operation. Women and children are especially facing indescribable difficulties," he told a news conference in the capital, Islamabad.
He said the government had made no provisions to cater for people who were fasting for the month of Ramadan.
"Now that 750,000 persons have fled their homes, there are still no arrangements for shelters, food, medical facilities, security and 'Sehri' (pre-dawn meal before starting the Ramadan fast) and 'Iftar" (breaking of fast) . Even if something is being done, it is absolutely not sufficient," Haq told journalists.
Pakistan announced the start of a full-on military offensive, "Zarb-e-Azb" (Strike of the Prophet's Sword) on June 15 to quash an increasingly assertive Taliban insurgency in the ethnic Pashtun region, the base of some of the country's most feared al Qaeda-linked militants.
Troops have since encircled the mountainous region on the Afghan border and fighter jets have pounded villages and militant hideouts, sending a wave of panicked refugees spilling into the nearby region of Bannu, as well as Afghanistan.
The army ordered the entire civilian population of North Waziristan to evacuate. More than 450,000 people left their homes.
In Bannu, one man said some refugees were attacked by police as they queued for food.
"Today our people were waiting at a food distribution centre when they were baton-charged by the police. Our tribesmen from Waziristan were baton charged. We therefore appeal to the government: Stop harassing our brave people who you have made homeless. If not, this could lead to grave trouble," the man said.
Another said he feared what would happen to his home in his absence.
"I hope they are not going to bombard and fire upon our houses that we have left behind. We have given a great sacrifice for our country. We appeal to the government, to Nawaz Sharif and the Corp Commander to have pity on these people and provide food for them," he said.
The Pakistani Taliban are deeply entrenched in the complex tribal patchwork of North Waziristan's society, blending into the populace and hard to distinguish from ordinary residents.
Some of the displaced people said the most feared militants had disappeared overnight as soon as the army offensive was announced.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his government have tried to engage those they see as moderate Taliban in ceasefire talks but those efforts collapsed after a Taliban attack last month on Pakistan's biggest airport in Karachi. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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