Tribal leaders in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday resolved to defy an arms ban till the political administration agreed to negotiate with them and remove their apprehensions. Tribal leaders contacted by Daily Times said the tribes in the area had been engaged in enmities for decades and it would be hard for them to move around the place without arms to protect themselves. They said the political administration should first ensure their protection before imposing the ban. People continued to defy the ban on Sunday as many could be seen brandishing weapons and rolling their eyes in the area’s bazaars. Sources said the Mir Ali assistant political agent (APA) held a meeting with a few pro-administration tribal leaders to convince the NWFP government that they had agreed to the ban but the situation was actually quite different.
"Struttin' around without guns cramps our style! How we gonna be ferocious tribesmen if we ain't got guns? What're we supposed to do? Throw rocks?"
"How 'bout if we compromise? Say, no artillery over 23 mm?"
"We need those 76 mm antitank guns for protection!" |
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