SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Tribesmen of upper tribal district held a protest rally here on Friday to condemn mortar shelling and firing on Tangi Bodeenzai, Kotbandkhel and adjoining areas of Ladha tehsil. The protesters claimed that mortar shelling resulted in injuries to civilians and damage to public properties. A shutter-down strike was held in Makin Bazaar, and hundreds of people participated in the protest rally against the shelling. Speakers including JUI’s Malik Saeed Anwar, Sherpao Advocate of PTI and Shams Mehsud of PPP expressed their deep concern over mortar shelling by security personnel on populated areas. They emphasised that while taking action against militants, the security forces should avoid shelling and firing on civilian areas, which cause fear and unrest among the local population, especially children and women folk. The protesters demanded of the federal government to take concrete measures to address unrest among locals and extortion in the area. They made it clear that they didn’t support any anti-social elements and desire peace. The protesters acknowledged that security forces officials were their own people, working efficiently for maintaining law and order in the area but unfortunate incidents like killing of dozens of precious cattle by unjustified firing at night had inflicted heavy financial losses on the local Mehsud tribes. The protesters’ leaders demanded peace and an end to shelling and firing on the civil population of the area. The teaching staff of Government Degree College, Wana, including professors and lecturers, held a demonstration outside the Wana Press Club to voice their opposition against the anti-employees policies of the provincial and central governments. The protest was organised by the Professors and Lecturers Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The protesters opposed imposition of taxes on salaried-class and demanded of the government to withdraw the taxes. They warned that their organisation would expand the protest if their demands were not fulfilled. The students of Government Middle School Umar Khan Kot in Toi Khullah tehsil organised a demonstration to protest against the shortage of teachers in the school. The protest, which was also joined by Sulemankhel tribal elders and local youth, highlighted the plight of the students who were facing difficulties due to the absence of teachers.