Denotified tribal militias hand over weapons

Elders say move was made voluntarily, however a year after decision announced to disarm lashkars

GHALLANI: Peace committees or aman lashkars in Baizai subdivision returned heavy weapons given to them by the Mohmand Agency political administration, a year after the Federally Administered Tribal Areas administration denotified tribal lashkars. Previously these peace committees would aid security forces to combat militants.

A function was held where the lashkars returned armaments handed to them to fight militants. It took place at Bahai Dag Mohmand, the headquarters of Baizai subdivision.



Peace committee leaders Malik Sultan and Malik Sanubar Khan were present for the ceremony. The weapons were provided by the Mohmand political administration in 2011 which was also when the peace committees were formed.

Baizai Assistant Political Agent Syed Abdullah Shah told the media peace committees seized to function under the National Action Plan. He said it was now the responsibility of the levies forces and other paramilitary forces to maintain peace in the tribal area.

The returned weapons would be given to levies personnel. It is anticipated levies will be elevated to the level of police as part of the FATA Reforms’ agenda.

Shah hailed the sacrifices of lashkar leaders and volunteers. The assistant political agent said the committees played a vital role in maintaining peace and fighting against terrorists in the agency.

He said their role as peace committee leaders had drawn to a conclusion, but they would continue to fulfil the responsibilities of tribal elders.

The arsenal

The weapons returned to the administration included RPGs, doshkas, SPGs, short range missiles, anti-tank mines, and various ammunitions and shells. Baizai peace committee leader Malik Sultan said the weapons were willingly handed over to the administration.

He said peace was restored to the agency and now it was the responsibility of the administration to make health, educational and other facilities functional. He appealed to those tribal leaders who were living in Peshawar and Lahore to return home to Baizai.



Background

The Mohmand Agency political administration made peace committees in 2011 after Operation Brekhna in 2011. These peace committees fought against militants in the agency and lost 50 of their own volunteers in Khwazai and Baizai subdivisions in targeted or militant attacks.

The administration paid cash and provided ammunition to these committees. The money was used to pay the salaries of the volunteers and finance other requirements.

In January 2015, these peace committees were made non-functional and now the administration has taken back their weapons. This was part of the government’s plan to deweaponise defunct peace committees, village defence committees and peace lashkars in Fata and K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.