MIRAMSHAH, March 8: Security forces expanded operation to others areas of Miramshah and blew up militant hide-outs in Datakhel area of the North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday.

Officials said army and paramilitary troops had begun a clean-up operation against militants in the agency following clashes with the local Taliban.

They said troops had blown up the hide-outs of the militants in Datakhel area near Miramshah. They already demolished the religious school of Maulvi Abdul Khaliq in Datakhel area on Tuesday.

Political Agent Syed Zaheerul Islam survived a life attempt on Tuesday evening, when his vehicle was attacked near Mirali.

A guard of the political agent was killed while another sustained injuries in the attack.

Sources said miscreants had fired a rocket on the vehicle in Nowrak area, about five kilometres west of Mirali. However, Mr Islam escaped unhurt.

Tension is high in the Miramshah town and other areas, while the bazaars and business places remain deserted.

DEMONSTRATION: Fata lawyers and students demonstrated against the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan Agency and demanded that the Supreme Court and Peshawar High Court should take suo motu notice of the atrocities and violation of human rights there.

Protesters, carrying placards in support of their demands, gathered in front of the Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against President Musharraf, US President George W. Bush and called for end to operation in the tribal areas.

Speaking to the demonstrators, Fata Lawyers Forum president Karim Mahsud said that an independent parliamentary and judicial commission should be formed to investigate the situation and make facts public. He alleged that the government had initiated the operation against the at the behest of Bush Administration.

“The recent string of operations was launched in Miramshah to please President Bush before his arrival to Islamabad,” Mr Mahsud said.

He said that around 99 per cent local residents had been killed in the operation in the Dandey Saidgay area last week.

He urged the government and human rights organisations to take notice of the large-scale displacement of innocent tribesmen in the North Waziristan Agency. “There is no security, no food, no medical facility and no electricity,” he added.

The government should provide food and lodging for the displaced people in other areas, he said.

Ejaz Mohmand, general secretary of the Fata Lawyers Forum, said the government should forthwith called off the military operation and initiate talks with the tribal people to defuse the situation.

“The government is receiving dollars in return for the killings of tribesmen,” he said.