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Tribal cops, govt employees too scared to work in Miranshah

MIRANSHAH: Tribal police and other government employees stopped going to work on Monday after receiving death threats from local militants following the decision of local Taliban to pull out of a peace deal with the government in North Waziristan.

The Taliban withdrew from the controversial deal on Sunday, and warned government employees to quit their jobs and tribal elders to stay away from the administration. Tribal police told shopkeepers in Miranshah on Monday that they could no longer guard them and the shopkeepers should hire private guards, some shopkeepers told Daily Times. Tribal cop Sher Nawaz was quoted as telling the shopkeepers: “We cannot endanger our lives to guard you after the threat (from the Taliban).” Radio Pakistan also went off air in Miranshah after its employees joined other government servants in staying away from their offices. “We have stopped going to the station because of the security threat,” announcer Gul Raza Khan told Daily Times.

Tensions ran high in the bustling Miranshah bazaar, as security forces took up positions on hilltops around the town. “Eighty percent of businesses have been affected and non-local skilled workers from Bannu, Karak and Lakki Marwat districts are leaving because of the tense atmosphere,” shopkeeper Muhammad Noor told Daily Times. A pamphlet from the ‘Shura of North Waziristan Taliban’ said they walked out of the peace agreement because it “did not serve the masses’ interest”. It added that the Taliban would not attack security forces from places close to residential areas, which might otherwise come under attack from return-fire. staff report

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