LANDI KOTAL, June 26: The chief of proscribed outfit Lashkar-i-Islam, Mangal Bagh, has imposed a ‘ban’ on smoking and use of snuff in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, according to sources.

Mangal Bagh threatened that the violators of the ban would be punished by the members of his organisation. He announced imposition of ban on use of naswar (snuff) and smoking cigarette through his illegal FM radio station, set up at an unspecified place in Tirah, on Tuesday, sources in Bara said.

They said that Mangal Bagh cautioned all the tribes of Bara that using snuff and smoking were un-Islamic. There would be a complete ban on use of snuff and smoking, sources quoted him as saying.

Mangal Bagh said that those found using the ‘banned items’ would be awarded five lashes alongside imposition of a fine.

The officials of political administration, however, expressed their ignorance about issuing of the new ‘edict’ by the Lashkar-i-Islam chief.

The Lashkar-i-Islam had earlier made obligatory offering of five times prayers, sporting beard, wearing caps by men and veil by women in the areas of its influence and warned of stern action against the violators.

The Lashkar-i-Islam chief through his recent broadcast also directed women belonging to Abdalkhel tribe to stop collecting firewood in the nearby forest. “A stern action would be taken against the male members of Abdalkhel tribe if their women are found collecting firewood in the nearby hills and forest,” he said.