SW tribesmen protest against NIC condition for phone calls

WANA: Tribesmen here on Monday staged a protest against a new condition set by the administration asking ?local residents to submit a copy of their identity cards before making a phone call from a public call office (PCO) in Wana and other parts of South Waziristan Agency.

Dozens of tribesmen from the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe took to the streets in South Waziristan’s administrative town Wana. They criticised the new condition on them.They complained that the local administration had warned of action against tribesmen or owners of the PCO if found violating the new condition. “The authorities wanted each and every tribesman ?to submit copy of their ID card and full information with the PCO before making a call. In case of failure, both the caller and PCO owner will be treated as anti-state elements,” said one of the protesters.

The protesters were ?carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the new condition and demands from the government and judiciary to take note of their sufferings.?The tribesmen complained that there was no cellular phone service in the entire South Waziristan and landline phones and PCOs were the only source of communication for the people of the militancy-torn tribal region with their near and dear ones outside the region.

“There is no cellular phone facility here. The landline phones often remain out of function and, therefore, the PCOs are the only source of communication. The administration now wants to deprive us of communicating with our family members and relatives working outside South Waziristan,” said another tribesman who pleaded anonymity due to fear of the administration.

The protesters demanded Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to take note of the harsh condition.