November 07, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 6: The government ordered law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to shoot on sight suspected militants in the areas connecting Peshawar with Khyber Agency to control terrorist activities and rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom, sources said.

“Free movements of militants from Michni to Khyber Agency and Peshawar has to be stopped and Michni hilltop be manned by scouts with the clear order to shoot on sight militants in the area,” official sources said.

According to them, the decision was taken at a high level meeting, held with Peshawar commissioner in the chair, last week. Fata deputy secretary, political agents of Khyber and Mohmand agencies, chief of capital city police, Peshawar DCO, officials of FC, Headquarters 11 Corps, SP special branch and Intelligence Bureau deputy director also attended the meeting.

The meeting decided that Swat Scouts would establish a post at Michni top and a checkpost on the road besides joint patrolling by police and FC immediately, for which the political authorities would establish two fabricated posts in Sakhi Pul area to check night movements of militants.

The meeting also decided that government would support formation of Lashkars by Mulagori and Shinwari tribes besides asking officials concerned to persuade tribesmen in other areas of Khyber Agency to follow the suit. Security personnel will be posted in Jamrud tehsil of the agency to carry out patrolling and escort convoys of vehicles on Torkhum Road.

The meeting also opposed the formation of Lashkars in settled areas. “But people in settled areas should be motivated to lend moral support to the law enforcement agencies by not allowing militants to seek shelter and create disturbance,” it added. Special branch police and Intelligence Bureau were tasked to keep vigil on the activities of the students of different religious schools.

According to the sources, the meeting asked police and FC to carry out joint Flag March in the surrounding area of Hayatabad Township to send a message of safety to citizens.

Peshawar commissioner said that in the wake of recent spike in the incident of kidnappings in Peshawar, Khyber Agency and adjoining area of Afghanistan on Jamrud-Torkhum Road, immediate actions would be taken against militants.

The people, he told the meeting, felt insecure due to free movement of militants and abductors.

Sources said that Khyber Agency political agent conceded that after their eviction from some volatile districts of the province militants were concentrating in his area.

He said that Kokikhel tribesmen weren’t cooperating and some of the families were sheltering militants due to which the incidents of vehicles snatching and kidnappings between Teddi Bazaar and Parangsar area of Jamrud tehsil had been increased.

According to him, the political authorities should be given one wing of the FC to be stationed in Jamrud tehsil to keep round the clock vigil on the Peshawar-Torkhum road, especially between Takhta Beg and Parangsar. Official suggested that there must be clear order of shoot on sight for the militants. Discrete operation should be immediately launched to flush out militants from Jamrud, he added.

Mohmand Agency political agent informed the meeting that situation in his area was far from satisfactory because after the operation in Bajaur, militants were gathering in Ghani Baba area. “Time is ripe for timely action and discrete operation against them,” sources quoted him as saying.

Peshawar DCO told the meeting that strong actions against militants in different area of the province especially in Darra Adamkhel had improved law and order in Peshawar Frontier Region.

Peshawar police chief said that activities of militants were increasing day by day in Michni and Spair Sang area, adding that shortage of manpower and resources in police force had been fully exploited by militants. Recent incursions from Shabqadar side by militants worsened the law and order situation in Mathra and Nasir Bagh area, he added.

Most of the police personal were engaged in handling militancy which had also adversely affected their performance, he told the meeting.