Militants loot government offices, quarters in Waziristan

Hundreds of armed militants went on the rampage in Pakistan's restive South Waziristan tribal region, looting and blowing up government offices and residential quarters, media reports said today.

There was mayhem in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan Agency, when hundreds of militants looted government offices, quarters and the press club located near the main base of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, the reports said.

The militants also blew up barracks being built for Levies militia and a government building after looting expensive equipment. Earlier, the militants looted equipment from the state-run radio station before blowing it up.
Transmissions were suspended after the attack, the third terrorist strike on the radio station since 2004.

Observers said the incident, the first of its kind, reflected the absence of the government's writ in South Waziristan, considered the stronghold of Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.

Reports said the militants asked the local people to join them in looting furniture and equipment from government buildings.

Security forces deployed at the Frontier Corps camp did not intervene to stop the looting, The News daily reported.

The political administration later called out paramilitary troops to restore order. Markets were closed and troops took up positions on buildings to stop the vandalism.

Local residents said security forces made announcements on loudspeakers asking people to close shops, leave markets and stay indoors.

"I never saw such a bad situation and even bricks and steel bars were taken away (in the looting)," a local tribesman told the Dawn newspaper.

He said the security forces acted like silent spectators and gave a free hand to the vandals.