| Local Taliban and jihadis have started collecting donations in the form of money, food and other basic necessities from various parts of the NWFP for the almost 50,000 North Waziristan tribesmen who moved to the province’s southern districts following several days of violence in the agency. Donations are being collected for North Waziristan residents who were forced to leave their homes and properties after violence between Pakistani security forces and militants in Mir Ali and its adjacent localities resulted in around 250 deaths. Following Eidul Fitr prayers at a local mosque, Mohammad Zubair, a Talib from Mardan district, asked for donations by saying, “Thousands of your brothers, sisters, mothers and children are awaiting your assistance as they are suffering cold winter nights without food and shelter. They are looking towards you.” Following the speech, people donated cash and clothing to local Taliban for the affected. Zubair told Daily Times that the local Taliban had started collecting donations from people in all 24 districts of the NWFP. Hikmatullah, a jihadi from Mardan, said, “They [the jihadis and pro-Taliban] are passing through critical times as they are confronted by their own army and Pakistanis are being killed on both sides of the conflict.” |