About 162,000 children in North Waziristan are at the risk of polio because of refusal by tribal people and imposition of the ban by the Taliban group on vaccination.
The pro-government jirga had endorsed the ban imposed by a Taliban group on polio campaign in North Waziristan.
The jirga of tribal elders, ulema and political authorities, held at the Governor’s Circuit House here, discussed ways of resuming polio vaccination in North Waziristan. It was attended by about 300 tribal elders and prominent ulema from across the tribal agency, DAWN.com reported.
Political Agent Siraj Ahmed Khan briefed the jirga on the importance of the campaign. Agency Surgeon Dr Muhammad Sadiq, Assistant Political Agent Shah Tasleem Khan and the local tehsildar were present on the occasion.
Leaders of the jirga told the government functionaries that the ban imposed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group would continue till the stoppage of drone strikes because innocent people, including children and women, were being killed in such attacks.
Earlier this month the local Taliban Hafiz Gul Bahadar group banned the vaccination in North Waziristan and Mulvi Nazir group in South Waziristan too. Thousands children in both North and south Waziristan are at risk of polio. Now the tribal leaders have also refused to finish the ban.
Tribal leaders including Ulema are the only hope of the local government to finish the ban. But Taliban have a very strong demand that's to stop the drone attacks in the area. That's what that Taliban, tribal leaders, Ulema, human rights organizations and the common people want to stop the attacks which kills the innocent children too.
Of course the leaders and Ulema are told by the militants to support them to keep the ban continued in the area until the drone attacks are stopped.
It is for the first time when Taliban have asked such a demand that every elements of the society wants in fact. That's why government faces problems in the issue. On the other side government is under pressure by the international health communities and WHO to take some meaningful action in the phenomena. But Taliban have told clearly that the ban will be continue until the drone attacks are stopped.
We never support Taliban to continue the ban. We would request them to it. We accept that Taliban do bad and deprive our innocent children from their basic right. But think a moment that what drones give U.S and us, of course the attacks create more militancy, drones kill our innocence, our mothers, our children and they destroy our houses and deprive us from our future.
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