Jirga opposes military operation in Swat

Wants police empowered to deal with militancy

SWAT:

Swat Qaumi Jirga has once again demanded of the government to fully empower police against militancy, saying that an army operation in the region would displace locals.

A meeting of the working committee of the Qaumi Jirga was held on Tuesday in which the participants strongly criticized the federal and provincial governments.

Referring to recent media statements by Special Assistant to CM, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the Jirga members said that he was the spokesperson of terrorists rather than the provincial government which was evident from his statements.

The meeting was chaired by Sher Bahadar Khan.

The members decided that the Jirga would work as a representative body of the people of Swat regardless of political affiliations.

It was also decided to extend the Jirga by including more members and it would stay in close contact with the district administration to keep Swat clean of extortion, targeted attacks and terrorism.

The Jirga members noted that there was no need of a military operation in Swat and added that police could accomplish the task if it is provided with all the necessary resources.

“Barrister Saif represent TTP rather than the provincial government,” they said.

Jirga members demanded that negotiations with TTP should be held openly by the government and parliament and suspicious secret talks should come to an end because they were not in anyone’s favour.

The meeting expressed its satisfaction over anti-terrorism protests in Bajaur, Dir, Buner and Shangla.

PTI oraganises anti-TTP protest

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Matta organised a peace walk against militancy.

The participants chanted slogans against militancy and terrorism. The call for peace walk had been given by Chairman Teshil Matta Abdullah Khan who is the brother of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

He said that police should be equipped accordingly to deal with militancy and it should be given a free hand against terrorists.

“We will not accept any such incident or attack carried out by ‘unidentified’ people and if any such thing happens all the people would go there and record their protest,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2022.