NOWSHERA, Feb 8: Two children were burnt to death while two women sustained critical injuries when fire broke out at tentage houses of internally-displaced persons (IDPs), Jalozai camp, on Sunday.

The fire broke out at the tent of Wakeel Khan when his wife was cooking food and within few minutes it engulfed other tens. The injured were shifted to hospital.

After the incident, the IDPs blocked the main G.T. road in Pabbi station in protest against the non-availability of fire brigade, ambulance service and other facilities at the camp. The protesting IDPs started hurling stones at the offices. The camp administration opened fire in the air to disperse the protestors.

The IDPs put the bodies on the road and blocked it for all kinds of vehicular traffic for several hours. They burnt tyres on the road and chanted slogans against the government and camp administration.

They accused officials of corruption in distribution of relief goods among the displaced persons. They alleged that officials were enjoying perks, privileges and looting the money meant for the IDPs.

On the occasion, the protestors demanded provision of ambulance service and fire brigade at the relief camp besides change of the current administration. The protestors were addressed by Gulzada, Gul Rahim and others.

Speakers accused the government of ‘step-motherly’ attitude towards the suffering IDPs. They warned that if security was not provided to the affected people of Bajaur then they along with their children would start a long march towards Islamabad.

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