November 28, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1429

KHAR, Nov 27: The lashkar of the Salarzai tribe has decided to set up checkpoints along the border to curb militants’ infiltration from Afghanistan into the Bajaur Agency.

It was also decided to induct more volunteers in the lashkar to launch a decisive campaign against outlaws in the area.

Over 1,000 Maliks and elders of the Salarzai tribe gathered here on Thursday and discussed the prevailing situation in the area.

Former MNA Malik Shahabuddin Khan told the jirga that checkpoints would be established along the border to block the entry of militants into the area from Afghanistan.

He said the tribe would depute its volunteers at the checkpoints and would also cooperate with law-enforcement agencies. He said volunteers would not allow the entry of residents of other tehsils in Bajaur. If any person, he said, was found violating decisions of the jirga he would be handed over to the political administration.

The jirga resolved to set on fire houses of militants and their supporters and to expel them from the area and impose a fine of Rs2 million on them.

The elders demanded that the government should direct security forces to set up checkposts in Salarzai and deploy paramilitary forces in the area.They also sought government’s assistance in eliminating troublemakers from the area.

The lashkar will be reorganised to launch a campaign against militants in the area from Friday.

It was pointed out that militants were still holding up in some pockets of Salarzai and the lashkar had been tasked to expel them from the area.