Fighting back: Militants regrouping in Upper Dir
Ask elders to form village committees to secure their area.
Malik said militants were enemies of the state and were against development. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
UPPER DIR:
In a grand jirga held in Panah Kot, Upper Dir on Wednesday, Additional Commandant Upper and Lower Dir Brigadier Zaheer Malik said security forces and locals would not let militants succeed in their plans to take over the region.
Addressing participants, Malik said militants were enemies of the state and were against development. He said security forces had received information the militants were trying to regroup in Upper Dir. However, the forces will not allow them to succeed in their plans, he added.
“The people of this region along with security forces have rendered heavy sacrifices to restore peace and we will not allow anyone to sabotage our progress,” the brigadier said, adding locals should cooperate with the forces and report any suspicious activities immediately.
Malik also asked elders to form village committees to secure their areas against militants. Any houses where suspects are found to be hiding will be demolished, he warned.
Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan, an elder, said locals had been cooperating with the forces and had already handed over multiple suspects to the police. “We were the first to form a committee to curb and fight militants in Upper Dir,” he stated.
The jirga was also attended by Colonel Zafar Yaseen, Deputy Commissioner Abid Ali, DPO Ihsanullah Khan and Major Naveed. Elders from Sultan Khel and Painda Khel, including Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan, Mian Sultan Yousaf and Hanifullah, were also present.
Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan said he had no information about the militants’ possible attempts to regroup. “However, if they do try to sabotage peace in the area, residents will be the first to fight back,” he maintained. “We will never allow militants to take control of our areas.”
On January 19, a jirga was held in Warhi tehsil, Upper Dir in which Major Awais had offered to provide security as security forces had received reports militants were planning to target the area’s elders.
However, Khan and the others had turned down the offer saying they would cooperate with the forces but did not need protection.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2013.
In a grand jirga held in Panah Kot, Upper Dir on Wednesday, Additional Commandant Upper and Lower Dir Brigadier Zaheer Malik said security forces and locals would not let militants succeed in their plans to take over the region.
Addressing participants, Malik said militants were enemies of the state and were against development. He said security forces had received information the militants were trying to regroup in Upper Dir. However, the forces will not allow them to succeed in their plans, he added.
“The people of this region along with security forces have rendered heavy sacrifices to restore peace and we will not allow anyone to sabotage our progress,” the brigadier said, adding locals should cooperate with the forces and report any suspicious activities immediately.
Malik also asked elders to form village committees to secure their areas against militants. Any houses where suspects are found to be hiding will be demolished, he warned.
Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan, an elder, said locals had been cooperating with the forces and had already handed over multiple suspects to the police. “We were the first to form a committee to curb and fight militants in Upper Dir,” he stated.
The jirga was also attended by Colonel Zafar Yaseen, Deputy Commissioner Abid Ali, DPO Ihsanullah Khan and Major Naveed. Elders from Sultan Khel and Painda Khel, including Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan, Mian Sultan Yousaf and Hanifullah, were also present.
Malik Faiz Muhammad Khan said he had no information about the militants’ possible attempts to regroup. “However, if they do try to sabotage peace in the area, residents will be the first to fight back,” he maintained. “We will never allow militants to take control of our areas.”
On January 19, a jirga was held in Warhi tehsil, Upper Dir in which Major Awais had offered to provide security as security forces had received reports militants were planning to target the area’s elders.
However, Khan and the others had turned down the offer saying they would cooperate with the forces but did not need protection.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2013.