Collective responsibility: Tribespeoples’ allowances suspended in lower Mohmand

Upper Mohmand’s locals told to remain vigilant during Eid

SHABQADAR: The political administration of lower Mohamand Agency has suspended the allowances of tribespeople as they failed to hand over suspects behind IED blasts in the area.

A jirga of Dawizai tribespeople was held in this regard in Ekka Ghund and it was decided that the compensatory monthly allowance to tribal elders as well as making of their ID cards and passports would be suspended under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Lower Mohmand Assistant Political Agent Naveed Akbar, who chaired the jirga, said Momen Kor area people in Dawizai failed to hand over the suspects. Therefore, the jirga decided to suspend the privileges allowed to them under the FCR.

On the occasion, Akbar said they would take further action if the tribespeople do not hand over the suspects.

Under the FCR

On Saturday, security forces demolished houses in lower Mohmand. One of the houses belonged to Akbar Jan and a cache of ammunition was found from the location. The tribespeople were told to hand over suspects by the end of Ramazan otherwise face an operation.

Moreover, in Michni, lower Mohmand, the administration already seized the businesses and properties of people of Bhai Kor and Kado Kor last week. This happened after the killing of two local servicemen in the area.

The act was condemned by human rights activists who said protection of lives and properties of people is the responsibility of the state and not locals.

Besides, in upper Mohmand, the political administration issued a warning to locals to be vigilant during the last days of Ramazan and on Eid days against suicide bombers.

It was earlier decided at a grand jirga in the agency that the tribespeople would be held responsible for the safety of their land.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.