Mohmand Agency: Mohmand Rifles Sector Commander Commandant Hafiz Asif Iqbal had warned the tribesmen that if they provided shelter or harbour the anti-state elements they will have to face strict action.
He made the warning while addressing a jirga here. The jirga was also attended by Lt-Col Umair, political agent Mahmood Aslam, assistant political agents and tribal elders from all tribes of the agency. He also asked the tribesmen to unite against miscreants and asked them not to allow any anti-state element to use their soil for carrying anti-state activities. He warned that houses of facilitators of militants would be demolished. He added that the militants sitting in Afghanistan carried out attacks in Pakistan, and asked the elders not to shelter such elements.
The law and order situation in the agency had recently deteriorated as only a few days earlier two Frontier Corps were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast. For this reason, a jirga was called to counter the deteriorating situation. Hafiz Asif said that the cooperation of the residents of the agency was crucial to restore and maintain peace in the region. “The responsibility is on the shoulders of the local elders to identify the militants in their vicinity and inform security forces”, he said.
He also said that in case of an IED blast, the houses which fall within the 300 yards area of the blast would be demolished. He also said that committees would be formed at village level to work with the security forces and inform them and the local administration about militant activities in the area. He said that computerized national identity cards (CNICs), domiciles and passports of facilitators of militants would be blocked and their properties confiscated. He said that people facilitating foreigners in getting Pakistani CNICs would be proceeded against under the law.
Political agent Mahmood Aslam urged the tribesmen to safeguard their respective areas and fulfil their territorial responsibility. In turn, the tribal elders, Malik Ziarat Gul, Malik Fayaz, Malik Lal Habib Khewazi and Salim Sardar assured their full support to the security forces in curbing militancy. They pointed out that foreign elements were using militants in Afghanistan to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
