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North Waziristan clerics to launch ‘silent protest’

MIRANSHAH: Pro-Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman) clerics in North Waziristan have decided to launch a “silent protest” against ongoing military operations against suspected militants by hoisting black flags at every house and commercial centre in all villages from Friday.

“This protest will continue until the army goes to the border, removes unnecessary check-posts and stops operations without any reasons,” former JUI-F North Waziristan general-secretary Sadar Abdur Rehman told reporters after the decision to launch the protest was made unanimously at a meeting of clerics in a mosque in Miranshah.

“Every man in Waziristan will wear black arm-bands to protest the army’s strong-arm tactics,” the JUI-F leader added.

The move comes two days after 18 suspected militants were killed near Miranshah as the military stepped up operations against militants.

Maulana Syed Jan, ameer of the Taliban in Miranshah and prayer leader at Masjid Qazi Faizul Qadir, was prominent among the clerics who attended the meeting. After 10 months of peace, North Waziristan has seen renewed clashes between security forces and militants after local Taliban pulled out of a peace deal struck with the government in 2006, alleging the government violated the peace pact by re-establishing security check-posts in the area. staff report

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