November 03, 2008	Monday	Ziqa'ad 4, 1429

GHALANAI, Nov 2: Taliban took control of Government High School Sandokhel in Upper Mohmand region and started digging trenches in its building to strengthen their position, officials and residents said on Sunday.

Political administration officials confirmed the report and said that local Taliban stormed the high school for boys on main Peshawar-Bajaur road in Lakaro tehsil and took its control without any resistance. The militants also set up bunkers at the school and took positions.

An official of education department told Dawn that militants occupied that portion of the school which was under construction with the financial assistance USAID.

ROAD BLOCKED: In another incident a group of Taliban erected barricades on the road near Shawa Farsh and searched every passing vehicle for several hours, locals said.

Sources said that militants were searching for pro-government elders and government’s functionaries. The action, they said, had created panic and fear among the passengers.

AIRSPACE VIOLATED: A US drone entered the airspace of Pakistan in Mohmand tribal region near Afghan border creating fear among the tribesmen.

The spy plane entered Mohmand Agency and made low flights on Sheikh Baba, Suran Darra, Kareer and Qandaro areas. The drone continued to hover on those areas for several hours, residents said.

CURFEW RELAXED: The local administration relaxed curfew from 12noon to 3pm after five days in the troubled areas of Mohmand region. The main Peshawar-Bajaur road also remained opened for vehicular traffic.

JIRGA: The political administration has convened a jirga of Haleemzai tribe on Monday at Ghalanai to devise a strategy for improving the prevailing law and order situation in the tribal region.

The political administration was tightlipped about the agenda of the Monday meeting. However, sources told Dawn that authorities called the jirga to ask the influential Haleemzai tribe to clear its area of the miscreants on their own otherwise the government would have no other option but take action them.

The political authorities would ask tribal elders to establish a Lashkar on the patron of Salarzai area in Bajaur to pressure the militants to leave the territory.