ISLAMABAD: The government claimed on Sunday that all militants had been flushed out of Buner and asked people of the area to return to their homes.

According to an official announcement issued by the interior ministry, government officials have also been asked to return to their posts and resume work.

‘Internally displaced people who left Buner can now return to their homes,’ Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.

‘Mardan, Rustam, Ambala, Daggar and Sultanwas roads have been cleared and all internally displaced people of Buner are requested to use these routes for their return. Alternative power supply through generators has been arranged in Buner for people coming back,’ the minister said. 

In the second phase of the month-long military operation in the district, police have joined the army in searching villages for weapons and militants, adds our correspondent from Buner.

Official sources said that about 800 containers of edible oil and a large number of police uniforms were found during a search in Sultanwas, which had been a stronghold of militants.

DPO Abdur Rashed Khan said the militants had looted edible oil provided by the World Food Programme to different health units and uniforms from the Pir Baba police station.

The joint police-army team conducted an operation in Jowkhela and Pacha Kalay areas to pave way for troops’ advance.

A house-to-house search was carried out in the area.

During two days of stay in the district headquarters, this correspondent saw policemen working in DPO, DCO and ACO offices and also patrolling streets, along with the army.

A joint team also guarded the United Nations mission in Buner.

The district administration has announced that the main road from Ambela to Jowkhela Chowk was now clear of militants.

The administration has also announced that the entire area from Ambela to Sultanwas has been secured and is safe for families to move into their homes.

A 12-hour curfew break was announced from 7am to provide an opportunity to people to buy foodstuff and farmers to harvest wheat.

Soldiers distributed foodstuff among local people in the main business centre of Swari and the severely affected village of Ghazikhanay.

Four army trucks brought flour and cooking oil and distributed them among local people.

The army said that sugar, tea, rice and pulses would also be provided to families living in their homes.

However, people are worried about complete breakdown of electricity supply and shortage of drinking water.