MARDAN, Sept 3: Mardan District Nazim Himayatullah Mayar and Tehsil Nazim Ihsanullah Bacha have warned that people of the region will raise a force to fight kidnappers and other criminals if the provincially-administered tribal area of Malakand is not declared a settled area by Oct 24.

They alleged at a press conference here on Monday that the Malakand Agency had become a safe haven for kidnappers, women traffickers and loan sharks.

They said the agency should be brought under police control to wipe out criminals.

They said that if the government failed to declare the agency a settled area by Oct 24, the people of Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi and Nowshera would raise an armed force to defend their lives and property and fight criminals.