PESHAWAR: The Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen of Dattakhel village in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, fear they will lose thousands of kanals of farmland.

These people earlier lost residential and commercial properties due to administrative action in their area under Zarb-i-Azb military operation against militants.

The affected residents said the authorities allegedly took possession of over 4,000 kanals of agricultural land and that heavy machinery had been engaged since last Thursday for leveling ground.

Elder of Datakhel village Malik Naseerullah Wazir told Dawn by phone that security forces had been deployed around farmlands, while fields were being leveled with heavy machinery.

He said the ‘settlement of the area’ was carried out before the Partition and that local people had been cultivating a vast tract of land for eight decades.

The elder said the settlement records proved that those lands were allotted to the natives of Datakhel village and therefore, the administration’s recent action was illegal.

He said he had brought the issue to the notice of assistant political officer Anwar Sherani.

“I will take up the matter with the army in Miramshah,” said Malik Naseerullah quoting the APO as saying.

Like Kurram Agency, the colonial government had carried out settlement in Miramshah, the agency headquarters.

The ‘forceful’ occupation of agricultural land has caused widespread resentment among residents of Datakhel village, who demonstrated in Bannu on Saturday.

The people assembled in front of the press club and condemned the action.

The security forces have pulled down over 10,000 shops and other commercial buildings in Miramshah Bazaar after dislodging local and foreign militants from the area in the wake of Zarb-i-Azb operation.

The offensive was launched in June 2014 and thus, causing displacement of over one million civilians.

Khalil Wazir, another resident of Datakhel, said the recent action showed that tribesmen were completely dislodged from North Waziristan Agency by taking possession of agricultural land.

He said inhabitants of Datakhel had already suffered due to military operation as their residential and commercial properties were demolished.

“More than 3,000 shops in Miramshah town and 250 houses belonging to residents of Datakhel village were destroyed in the military operation.

“Now, we are being deprived of our agricultural land. If the government captures agricultural land, then how the people would survive,” he said.

The tribesman said the affected people would approach the appropriate court to get their voice heard.

He said affected owners were not allowed to reconstruct their shops in Miramshah town.

The army has started construction of shops in Miramshah bazaar with officials claiming the work will be over very soon.

Ninety 90 blocks, each consisting of 16 shops, are constructed in the town. They will be allotted to the local people.

An official concerned said the mechanism for allotment of shops had yet to be made.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2016