Families from Azam Warsak in Lower South Waziristan say delayed compensation and limited access to medical care have worsened their difficulties after quadcopter attacks, mortar shelling and suicide bombings.

WANA: Forty families affected by attacks in Azam Warsak, a locality in Barmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan, have demanded immediate compensation for people killed or injured in various incidents and effective measures to provide free medical treatment to the wounded.

Representatives of the affected families made the demands during an emergency news conference at the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) office, appealing to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and relevant authorities to address their grievances.

The representatives said residents of Azam Warsak had suffered casualties in separate incidents involving quadcopter attacks, mortar shelling and suicide bombings. According to the families, some households lost or had six to seven members killed or injured, while others reported casualties involving eight to nine family members.

They said the repeated incidents had left affected households facing serious financial and personal difficulties, particularly those struggling to arrange medical care for injured relatives.

The families alleged that injured people affected by quadcopter attacks, mortar shelling and bomb blasts were unable to obtain treatment through the Sehat Card health insurance programme. As a result, they said, many families had to seek treatment at private hospitals despite having limited financial resources.

According to the representatives, some injured people have spent months at home without adequate medication or proper medical treatment because their families cannot afford the costs.

The protesters also complained about delays in compensation for the families of those killed or injured in the incidents. They said affected people had repeatedly visited the relevant police station and the office of the district police officer (DPO) in an effort to resolve their cases.

The families alleged that officials directed them from one office to another, leaving some cases unresolved even after two months. They called for a clear and effective process to ensure that eligible families receive the compensation due to them without unnecessary delays.

The affected families appealed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the provincial chief secretary, the provincial government and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to take immediate notice of their complaints.

They urged the authorities to ensure payment of announced or outstanding compensation to the families of those killed or injured and introduce special arrangements for the medical treatment of the wounded.

The representatives also called for the identification of those responsible for the incidents and legal action in accordance with the law. They said affected residents should receive their lawful rights, including access to health care, financial assistance and protection.

During the news conference, the families said they did not want further conflict or unrest in their area and wished to live peacefully. They described themselves as peaceful citizens who deserved the same fundamental rights, security, health facilities and dignity as people in other districts of Pakistan.

They urged the government and relevant institutions to move beyond statements and assurances and take practical steps to resolve their problems.