July 02, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 16, 1428

LAKKI MARWAT, July 1: The Marwat Qaumi Jirga has threatened to ban the entry of Wazir tribesmen in the district if a kidnapped official of the Community Uplift Programme (CUP) is not found within five days.

District Nazim Humayun Saifullah Khan, MPA Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), MPA Zafrullah Khan Marwat and other elders of the area attended a meeting of the jirga here on Sunday. It discussed the increase in kidnapping incidents, militant activities and deteriorating law and order situation in the district.

It was decided that the jirga would soon call on NWFP Chief Minister Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani and Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai to apprise them of the worsening situation.

“The Marwat jirga will also call upon the chief minister and the governor to direct the law-enforcement agencies to ensure the release of the kidnapped credit officer of the CUP, Saeedur Rehman, who belongs to the tribe, within five days,” a member participant of the meeting said.

It was decided that the jirga would block the entrance routes of the district to stop the entry of people from Wazir and the kidnappers’ tribes in Lakki Marwat if the government failed to recover the kidnapped official.

“It is the prime responsibility of government to provide security to people,” Anwar Kamal said.

He warned that the tribe would not hesitate from armed lashkarkashi against the kidnappers and militants if the law-enforcement agencies failed to provide security to the Marwats.