TIMERGARA, July 13: A local army commander has convened a jirga of ulema, leaders of political parties, banned outfits and tehsil nazims of Lower Dir district at the DCO office here on July 16.

An official said Brigade Commander Maj-Gen Khalid Agha had asked the district authorities to invite ulema, tribal elders and political leaders to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in the region.

Meanwhile, a brigade of army has arrived in Lower Dir district and took positions in buildings of a local hospital in Samer Bagh and the regional institute for teachers’ education in Timergara.

District Coordination Officer Dr Attaur Rehman told journalists that army troops had been deployed in the district to improve security.

He denied military operation in the area and said the troops would operate in Midan, Samer Bagh and Timergara.

PEACEFUL STRUGGLE: The proscribed Tehreek Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) has announced that it will continue peaceful struggle for the enforcement of Sharia in the region.

Speaking at press conference here on Friday, TNSM chief Maulana Abdul Ghafoor said the organisation would not resort to violence to enforce the Islamic system.

“We don’t believe in militancy and never support terrorism. Those who support violence are not sincere with the Muslims,” he said, adding that the organisation had assured the district administration that its workers would remain peaceful.

The government had banned the TNSM in 2002 and its founder leader Maulana Sufi Mohammad had been detained in Dera Ismail Khan’s central prison.

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