KOHAT, Feb 7: The district Nazim and the police authorities have assured the business community that the government would exploit all resources and take stern action against the criminals hiding in the tribal areas to ensure public security and restore law and order.

They were talking on Thursday to different delegations of business community which called on them separately to register their complaint against the increasing kidnappings for ransom in the area. They demanded strict action against the tribesmen who were providing shelter to the proclaimed offenders, and demanded immediate release of the four traders kidnapped during the last one week.

They informed district Nazim Malik Asad and SSP Ihsan Ghani that the recent kidnappings, in which 12 people had been kidnapped, had caused fear and insecurity among the people.

Responding to the reservations of the business community, the Nazim and the police chief said that they had asked the tribal leaders to stop harbouring criminals in their areas, specially in Darra Adam Khel or get ready for action. They said that the government was aware of the situation and wanted to resolve the issue once and for all for which many options were under consideration.

The leaders of various political and business organizations were invited by the district Nazim for a meeting after they vehemently criticised the district administration for its failure to protect the lives and property of the tax payers.

They also demanded all time presence of the Nazim in the district who, they said, spent five days a week in Islamabad and Peshawar in connection with his business engagements.

They regretted that since the kidnappings of four traders they had been trying to discuss the situation with the Nazim but he was not available, and despite their repeated attempts he could not be traced in Islamabad. They asked the Nazim to ensure his presence in the town the whole week and stick to promises he made during the election campaign.

PROTEST: Earlier, at a meeting, the representatives of business community decided to block all payments to the tribesmen in Darra Adam Khel and Karkhano market in Jamrud as a mark of protest against the recent kidnappings.

They also decided to stop selling goods to the tribesmen in the same areas besides Orakzai Agency to exert pressure on the tribesmen to avoid protecting criminals.

The meeting was attended by Manzoor Ahmed Paracha, Chairman of the Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Gulzar Hussain, President of the Mushtarika Markets Association, and Abid Paracha of the Islamic Business Forum.

The participants said the adjoining tribal areas posed a constant threat to the people of the area and the activities of the proclaimed offenders had badly affected the business besides causing immense fear among them.

Mr Manzoor Paracha said during the last few months dacoities and kidnappings for ransom were on the rise and 12 people, including four traders had been kidnapped in just 20 days.

He demanded of the NWFP Governor, Lt-Gen Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (retired), to take strict action for the early recovery of the victims and arrange permanent security for the local business community and common people against the activities of the proclaimed offenders hiding in the protection of tribal maliks in Darra Adam Khel, Orakzai Agency and Khyber Agency.

The leaders regretted that while they paid huge taxes to the government their lives and property were not safe in the settled areas, which was a cause of major discomfort among them.

They warned that if the traders were not recovered safely, and without paying any ransom, they would adopt other means to handle the situation and the responsibility of the consequences would be that of the government.

They also set a deadline of 24 hours for the recovery of Sarhad Tobacco Company sales officers Shakirullah and Waheed and Asad Optico owner Asad Aziz who were kidnapped in Darra Adam Khel while travelling between Kohat and Peshawar.