MARDAN, Aug 24: Police have lodged an FIR and constituted a two-member committee against 16 persons for allegedly being involved in women trafficking.

Citizen Action Committee (CAC) coordinator Sakhawat Shah at a press conference on Wednesday had alleged that 16 persons in the district were involved in trafficking young girls, mostly from poor families in rural areas and later sold them in Punjab. The FIR was filed on Thursday.

Mr Shah had alleged that the CAC had given a list of the culprits to DPO Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur and a resolution was also passed by the district council against the illegal trade but no action was taken by authorities concerned. The DPO, however, denied receiving any list and said that he had issued directives to the city police to register an FIR after news about the trade appeared in the press.

The official said that no FIR had been lodged by the CAC at any police station and he had to direct the city police himself to lodge the FIR. He informed that a two member committee headed by Investigation In charge Zahirullah Khan had been constituted to take action.

When Mr Shah was contacted to get his comments on the denial, he claimed that he had given the list to the DPO’s PA.