K-P council tasked to evict armed groups

ARDC to engage militants to voluntarily leave K-P emergency districts

PESHAWAR:

Authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have initiated a peace process in the twelve districts where emergency was imposed on October 11—a process in which local tribal elders and jirgas will be involved to engage with militants and convince them to leave the areas.

Under this process, the authorities assigned the task to a 48-member Area Representatives and Development Council (ARDC) which will initiate talks according to tribal customs in their districts and convince armed groups to evacuate.

Talking to The Express Tribune, ARDC Chairman Shaukatullah Khan and the K-P governor's adviser on information, Mehmood Jan Babar, confirmed the development.

According to Khan, who also served as K-P governor, council members will initiate the talks process in their respective areas. "The ARDC members will enlist support from jirgas, tribal elders and local people so that armed groups may be convinced to voluntarily evacuate."

Mehmood Jan Babar said the relevant ARDC member in every district will be assigned the task to initiate the process to liaise with local jirgas, elders and people. "The process will be taken forward based on local contacts and consultations," he said.

The development comes as authorities seek to improve the law and order situation in 12 K-P districts through the imposition of an emergency and the establishment of a new administrative structure.

The districts include Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan.

The federal government announced the imposition of an emergency in these districts on October 11. The move was endorsed by a joint sitting of Parliament on October 15, while a notification establishing the 48-member ARDC was issued on October 17.

The council aims to involve local representatives in addressing law and order, development needs and public grievances. The new strategy will focus on creating an environment for dialogue with armed groups by using the traditional jirga system and the influence of local elders in tribal society.

Shaukatullah Khan told The Express Tribune that, as the council's name suggested, development would be its initial priority, focusing attention on development projects in the designated areas.

He said establishing peace in these districts was also essential and would require a separate strategy that took tribal traditions into account.