LANDI KOTAL: Lashkar men’s entry into Landi Kotal area banned
By Ibrahim Shinwari
LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Oct 1: Tribal elders from Kum Shalman area in Landi Kotal tehsil on Monday banned the entry of Lashkar-i-Islam activists in their area.
A jirga comprising elders of Mulyan Kaley, Arun Khel, Bar Kaley and Kuz Kaley decided that they would not allow the self-proclaimed amir of Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, and his armed band to interfere in their local and personal affairs.
The jirga declared that local elders and religious leaders were capable of resolving their disputes and nobody in Kum Shalman would be allowed to invite non locals into the area for the resolving disputes.
The jirga, which was addressed by Malik Sabir Khan, Malik Mali Khan, Haji Sardar Khan and Haji Sher Haider, decided that, if necessary, an armed lashkar of Kum Shalman youngsters would be formed to forcibly stop the Lashkar’s supporters from entering their area.
Mangal Bagh made his maiden trip to Landi Kotal tehsil on Sept 11 with hundreds of armed activists and announced the formation of the Lashkar-i-Islam’s local unit.
Local elders and supporters of MNA Allama Noorul Haq Qadri and his brother Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik took exception to the visit and begun armed patrolling of Landi Kotal roads to prevent his re-entry into Landi Kotal.
The two have formed a committee to enforce a ban on the sale of obscene CDs, alcohol and other contrabands.
A majority of Landi Kotal elders criticised the political administration for its failure to prevent Mangal Bagh from entering the area despite several Khasadar and FC checkpoints on the Jamrud-Landi Kotal road.
