Terrorism from the last eight years had put severe dents in Pukhtuns’ culture. Amn Tehrik

Terrorism from the last eight years had put severe dents in Pukhtuns’ culture. Amn Tehrik
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 2:10pm
Activists of Amn Tehreek, a representative body of civil society organizations took out a peace rally in Peshawar here on Tuesday. Idress Kamal, convener of Amn Tehrik, Dr. Said Alam Mehsud, Shamim Shahid, Khalid Ayub, Shakeel Wahid Ullah, Rakhsinda Naz, Begum Jan, Nusrat BB, Samina Afridi, Naheed Malalai, Muhammad Jan Gagyani Anwar Durrani, Dr. Khan, Umer Javed, Umair Ahad Meerkhel, Hassan Zeb Khan, Nizam Ullah Dawar, and Zar Ali Khan Musazai and Noroz Khan Advocate of General Secretary of Peshawar Bar Association participated in the rally that started from Peshawar Press Club and culminated at the blast site. The rally was against the bomb blasts of Session Court Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The participants chanted slogans of "We want peace on our soil" and "No to terrorism” we condemn all form of terrorism, we want unity against terrorism.

Idress Kamal, convener of Amn Tehrik said that they came to express their sympathies with the bereaved families and to convey the message that the victim families were not alone in their hour of grief and sorrow. He said that the residents of terrorist targeted areas would not succumb to the terror activities and would continue their struggle to restore peace and tranquility of the country. He said that the ongoing military operation in the tribal region was not going in the right direction as none of the militants’ leaders had been captured. They stressed the need for a targeted military drive. He said that Pukhtun must be united against the oppressor. He demands that the state must change their policy. We are suffering from duel policy of our state.

Speaking on the occasion Khalib Ayub, Tajir Ithihad Peshawar said that the government should immediately compensate the families of the martyrs as well as of those who received injuries in the blast. He said that the government should also announce compensation for those who lost their business and property in the blasts. He also demanded compensation for those who lost their shops, homes and other property. He said that the death toll could have been lowered had a proper rescue operation been started by trained and well equipped teams.

Shamim Shahid President Peshawar Press Club said that the perpetrators of such a heinous crime could not be called Muslims or even human beings, as they are enemies of humanity. He said that they want to convey a message to terrorists that the people of this province would not cowed by their terror activities and would stand united and would fight the terrorists till their elimination. He said the rally was taken out to give a message to the affectees of the tragedy that the civil society was with them at this hour of trial. He demanded that 70% of Funds generated on the name of War on terror must be given to Pukhtunkhawa. Pakistan should stop interfering in other neighboring countries.

Dr. Said Alam Mehsud of Amn Tahrik demands arrest of militant leaders and asked the government to stop the drama of military operations in the province. He termed the ongoing operation in Waziristan a futile exercise, saying that the military establishment was in no mood to eliminate militants but just to strengthen their control on them. He claimed that all the militants, who had left South Waziristan Agency, had now gathered in North Waziristan. Pakistan interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan led us to the current mayhem in the country, particularly in the Pakhtun belt; He said terrorism was a big menace, which had engulfed the whole Pakhtun belt. He said terrorism from the last eight years had put severe dents in Pukhtuns’ culture as their hujras, jirgas and weddings were all targeted and devastated. He said it had not only affected the culture but the economy, trade and communication of Pukhtuns were also badly damaged. He said things would not improve till the policy change of the establishment vis-a-vis Afghanistan. Dr Mahsud also expressed his dissatisfaction at the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan Agency, saying: “The security forces have launched operation in South Waziristan from three sides why not from all the sides. He added that the move created suspicions about the intentions of the planners of the operation Rah-i-Nijat. He said the existing situation could not be tolerated anymore, demanding the government to solve the lingering problem as early as possible. Participants chanted slogan against the extremist and all form of terrorism. They prey for the departed soul. Later, the participants laid floral wreath at the scene of the blast.