Pakistan provincial governor condemns US drone strike
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 17, IRNA -- Governor of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province, Barrister Masood Kausar, on Thursday strongly condemned the US drone strike on a tribal council killing 41 people.
Locals said that two US drone aircraft fired four missiles into Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on the participants of tribal council, who had gathered to resolve dispute over the sale of Chromite mine in the area.
'The US drones targeted tribal council and killed tribesmen and members of the local government militia force,' the Governor said in a statement.
Locals said that the tribesmen from Madda Khel tribe gathered at Nawai Adda area of Datta Khel bazaar when four missiles fired from two U.S. pilotless aircraft hit them.
Officials confirmed death of 41 people and injury of 15 others. The injured were transferred to the region’s main hospital in Miranshah.
Several senior tribal elders were among the victims, tribesmen said.
'The government and the people will not tolerate such attacks in future,' Governor Kausar said, adding that the US drone strikes violate Pakistan’s sovereignty, integrity and the government policy.
The governor also called for payment of compensation to the families of the victims. He expressed sympathies with the affected families.
A member of National Assembly from the region, Kamran Khan, condemned the drone strike and said that mostly innocent people were killed and injured during Thursday’s strike.
Residents said that they had seen four drones hovering over the area before and after the attack. They said two aircraft fired missiles.
This is the third attack in North Waziristan in four days. Also on Thursday a drone killed at least five suspected militants in North Waziristan.
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