SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Mehsud tribesmen and political parties continued their protest sit-in at Makeen bazaar in Upper South Waziristan district on the second consecutive day on Saturday to protest against shelling and firing on populated areas by the security forces, causing unrest and loss of precious cattle. Addressing the sit-in, Malik Saeed Anwar from Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan, Sherpao Advocate of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Shams Mehsud from Pakistan People’s Party and others demanded that the security forces, while acting against militants, should avoid indiscriminate firing and shelling on populated areas that put innocent lives at risk and caused fear and anxiety among the local residents. The protesters said that they were not supporters of militants and wanted peace in the area, but the indiscriminate firing by the security forces was unjustified. The protesters urged the government to take concrete measures to establish peace in the region and to compensate the local Mehsud tribes for their financial losses. They also demanded of the government to take action against the terrorists and not against the innocent civilians. Employees of Sholam Hospital staged a demonstration to protest against non-payment of their salaries and boycotted all medical departments including emergency services. The protesters, led by Dr Kaleem Wazir, marched through the hospital, shouting slogans against the provincial government and the health department. They demanded of the authorities concerned to release their salaries without delay, warning that their protest campaign would be expanded if their demand was not met.