PESHAWAR: Women staged a demonstration in Haleemzai sub-division of Mohmand Agency on Friday to protest against unwarranted raids by the paramilitary forces and alleged illegal detention of their male family members.

Residents said that dozens of women along with their children blocked the main highway, which links Peshawar with Bajaur Agency. They said that the protesting women hailed from Derbakhel area.

They were chanting slogans against officials of the law enforcement agencies and demanding release of their relatives. Traffic remained off the road for more than two hours due to closure of the highway.

The agitating women complained that security forces had been raiding their houses for the last two weeks and arresting their male family members. They were demanding immediate release of the detained relatives.

The women dispersed after getting assurance from officials of the political administration that innocent people would be released soon.

Say forces have taken into custody male members of their families

A resident of the area said that the security forces had started search operations and houses were being raided. He said that a shopkeeper was picked up from Chanda Bazaar in Haleemzai three days ago and his body was recovered from Shabqader area of Charsadda district adjacent to Mohmand Agency.

He said that the security forces were frequently conducting raids in Haleemzai and other areas of the tribal agency and several people had been arrested, which created unrest among the residents.

Assistant political agent Mohammad Zeeshan told Dawn that the security forces carried out a search operation in Haleemzai on Thursday and detained about 20 suspects.

He said that some elements had increased their activities against the security forces following which sting operations were launched in the area. He said that the protesting women were assured that innocent people would be released soon.

Officials said that miscreants had started targeting government employees and personnel of the law enforcement agencies in some areas. Three people, a polio worker among them, were killed in landmine explosion while beheaded body of a Levies man was recovered on Wednesday last.

Mr Zeeshan said that the security forces had the powers to conduct raids and arrest suspects after promulgation of Action (in aid of civil powers) Regulation, 2011. He said that after brief interrogation people were released. The law, which gives widespread powers to the law enforcement agencies in tribal areas, was promulgated to provide legal cover to the detention of suspects.

Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2014