MINGORA: The members of village defence committees (VDCs) and police pledged at a jirga here on Sunday to fight jointly against anti-state elements.

The jirga, held at Mingora police station, was convened by DSP Habibullah Khan. The members of village defence committees from different parts of Mingora, peace activists, local representatives and policemen attended the jirga.

“Without close coordination between local people and police any criminal and extremist activity cannot be stopped.

“The VDCs have key role in elimination of terrorism. If they assist police, I am sure extremists will not dare to peep into our society,” said the DSP in his opening remarks. The members of village defence committees and peace activists ensured police of their cooperation, saying they had come out of their homes voluntarily for peace of the area.

“During the era of Swat state there was a close coordination between people and police but that close link gradually faded away which created a big gap between people and police,” said Haji Rasool Khan, an elder of Mingora. He also underlined the importance of jirga system.

Fazal Wahab, member of a village defence committee, said that till 2012 the VDCs had an effective monitoring system and any outsider could be easily traced in their respective areas.

He said that members of village defence committees should be authorised to check tenants in their areas. “These outsiders are involved in incidents of targeted killing. They rent a house in an area and stay there for some months. They leave the area after carrying out illegal activities,” he alleged. He said that there should be a proper mechanism for checking of rented buildings.

“We are ready to offer sacrifice for our motherland. We will be happy to work with police against anti-state elements,” said Wahid, another member of a village defence committee.

The participants of the jirga vowed to fight terrorism and crimes jointly.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2016