Pamphlets: Militants warn locals against supporting any operation

The pamphlet was in Urdu and warned people to stay away from joining the police force or even supporting them.

PESHAWAR:

Taliban militants have warned locals of Nak Band, a small village on the outskirts of the provincial capital, not to cooperate with the government or police, saying the residents would otherwise be dealt with as criminals.

The flyers were pasted on nearly every wall in the village. “The pamphlet was in Urdu and warned people to stay away from joining the police force or even supporting and cooperating with them,” said an elder, adding that at first they thought it was a joke.

“We are poor people. We have not taken any sides or helped in confronting the militants,” he said, wondering aloud what the militants could want from them. “Those who cooperate with the government will meet the same fate as Shamusur Rehman and his friend. We have taken revenge of our two men killed in police firing in our attack at Zakhel Dam check post by killing 21 Levies men,” read the text of the pamphlet.

According to locals, Rehman and another person went missing eight months earlier. They were found dead a few days ago in Passani Gut, Mattani.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.