October 11, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 23, 1422

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MANSEHRA, Oct 10: To maintain law and order in the prevailing situation, the NWFP government has strictly banned the participation of Afghan refugees in rallies, public meetings and other activities, related to American strikes against Afghanistan, Dawn has learnt through official sources.

The instructions issued to district administrators (DAs) and area administrators (AAs) of Afghan Refugee Department said that to maintain law and order in the wake of air strikes against Afghanistan, they had to make sure that the DPs did not take part in any gathering or  public rallies.

The officials were asked to hold meetings with elders of the refugees to ask them to remain peaceful.

It ordered that village refugee administration and security staff  should remain present in the areas and watch activities of the outsiders visiting their camps. Leaves of staff should be cancelled and no leave to any staff members would be granted till future order.

A survey revealed that Afghan DPs were being restricted to their camps after 6.30pm and security staff of the Afghan Refugees Department patrols the city and closes the shops of DPs which are opened after the time.

Around 3,000 activists of different organisation, including Sipah-i- Sahaba, Afghan refugees and tribesmen have left Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram and Kala Dhaka for Afghanistan to take part in the war against America.

Mansehra SSP General Secretary Maulana Israel Garangee confirmed the report but did not reveal the number of his party activists who had gone to take part in the war.

When this scribe visited the camps and met the elders (Mushran) of Afghan refugees, they condemned the atrocities being committed against their brethren and said that when the war on land would start, they would take part in it.

Malik Jalad Khan, who hails from Paktia province, however, said a government backed by the Loya Jirga would be acceptable because members from each province are the members of the Jirga.

SECTION 144: The district Nazim Haripur, Dr Raja Amir Zaman, has enforced Section 144 in Haripur district, banning all kinds of public meetings and processions within the limits of district for 60 days, a handout issued by the district Nazim secretariat says that the enforcement of Section 144 was aimed at preventing any law and order situation in the backdrop of US led military attacks on Afghanistan, our Haripur correspondent adds.

The district Nazim warned that any person or persons violating his orders would be dealt with under section 188 PPC.

The local administration has closed all the educational institutions both private and public sector for a week.

The camp administration of Afghanistan refugees has also confined the refugees to their camp areas.