Lakki Marwat names 72 most wanted terrorists

District police to launch large scale crackdown

DI KHAN:

Lakki Marwat police have finalised a plan to curb terrorism and improve the law and order situation in the volatile district.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Lakki Marwat Police District Officer (DPO) Taimoor Khan said that in collaboration with intelligence agencies, a list of 73 most-wanted terrorists has been compiled.

He acknowledged that the security situation in the district had deteriorated significantly over the past two years. In response to the seriousness of the situation, police held a six-day protest, and action on their demands has now been initiated.

A list of 73 most-wanted terrorists, extortionists, and their facilitators have been prepared.

According to the DPO, after thorough investigation, a booklet has been prepared containing names, fathers' names, and places of residence of these terrorists. Intelligence-based operations would be launched to eliminate them.

The operation strategy is being finalised, and it has been decided how the operation will be conducted. In the coming days, a largescale crackdown will be launched against them, and their hideouts will be demolished.

On September 14, police sit-ins and boycott of the ongoing vaccination campaign come to an end in Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Bajaur districts. In Lakki Marwat district, the end to the protest was largely credited to the efforts made by elders of the Marwat Qaumi Jirga. The Bannu regional police officer (RPO) has taken responsibility for the implementation of the agreement.

If the terms of the agreement are not implemented, the police officers will resume their sit-in. One of the conditions was that there would be no external interference in police authority and duties. It was reported from the area that implementation has already begun of the demands made by participants of the joint sit-in by police officers and the public.

One of the key wants of the sit-in was to close police stations located in remote and dangerous areas. In response to this, orders have been issued to relocate the Bargai police station to the Bakhmal checkpoint and the shift will be completed in the coming days. Also, the Bargai police station will be closed for the time being.

The police officers' protest, which had been ongoing for the last four days, ended late due to the efforts of the elders of the Marwat Qaumi Jirga. The negotiations between Lakki Marwat police and the Pakistan Army were successful.

The Marwat Qaumi Jirga elders, senior police officers, the administration, and senior military leadership played a significant role in ending the sit-in.

An agreement was made with the Lakki Marwat police in the presence of the Marwat Qaumi Jirga elders, senior police officers, the administration, and the military leadership to end the protest. According to the agreement, the police would be empowered, provided with armored vehicles and other resources, while there will be no external interference in police duties.

The agreement also stated that special care will be taken for police martyrs and the injured. Another added condition to reach the agreement was that there would be no disciplinary action against the police officers or civilians who participated in the sit-in.

Meanwhile, the demonstration in Bannu also came to an end, with RPO Imran Shahid taking on the responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the agreement with authorities. The police officers stated that if the agreement was violated, the protest would not only resume in Lakki Marwat, but across the whole of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.