May 12, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, May 11: A ten-member committee of ulema, which was formed on April 27, has called upon all the tribes of Landi Kotal to volunteer 100 men each to its armed force to wipe out ‘immorality and vulgarity’ from the tribal region. The committee, which held its meeting here on Sunday, said that in case of failure of the tribes to provide volunteers, people from outside would come to enforce their dictates on the tribal people, sources said.

The meeting urged the tribes of Landi Kotal that they should volunteer 100 men each to the council of ulema or moral brigade, to wipe out un-Islamic practices and prevent the interference of outside forces in the region.

The meeting also called upon the tribesmen to contact the council for the resolution of their disputes and conflicts.

The council comprises Mufti Ejaz as its leader and Mullah Hazrat Nabi alias Tomanche Mullah, Maulana Sayed, Maulana Atiq, Qari Samin, Qari Imran, Maulana Sher Haider and Maulana Majahid as its members. No tribal elder or Malik is included in the moral police, sources said.

Mufti Ejaz, who lost general elections to Noorul Haq Qadri, said that the dispute and conflicts would be resolved by the ulema.

The sources said that the tribal elders had demanded of the administration to close the FM Radio, set up by Mullah Hazrat Nabi in the area, but no action was taken in this regard.

The demand to close the FM Radio station had been made in view of the trouble which was created by such illegal station in the Khyber Agency.

Meanwhile, sources said, that 15 to 20 pickups with armed men on board were seen proceeding to the border areas on the Loe Shalman road on Saturday evening.