Following an unexplained fire at a hospital during Ramzan, the political administration arrested nearly 70 men of the the Karmaz Khel tribe in South Waziristan. They remain in custody.
The fire, which destroyed documents, occurred at Wana Civil Hospital situated inside the Frontier Corps Camp in South Waziristan’s central town. The political administration has not issued any details to explain why it is suspects those arrested of having set the blaze, but the 70 men are being held under the FCR regulations that hold the tribe collectively responsible for issues, violations and crimes in the tribe’s territory.
45 of the arrested have reportedly been transferred to D.I. Khan jail.
Update | September 01, 2017 – The political administration released 50 people of the Karmaz Khel who had been held for the last 2 months following an explained ambulance fire at Wana hospital. The group was held under the collective responsibility clause of the FCR. Political tehsildar and acting assistant political agent Zahid said that the group was released after a jirga was held. It is unclear whether more people still remain in jail. The Karmaz Khel tribe has been held under the FCR before in 2014 (ET).
