PARACHINAR: The authorities have decided to continue with the Badraga system (vigilance committees) in the central and lower subdivisions of Kurram Agency in view of the prevailing security situation in the region which lies close to the Afghan border.

A ban has also been slapped on display of weapons.

The decision was taken at a jirga attended by senior officers and elders of the two administrative units of Kurram in Sadda here on Friday.

Assistant political agents Tariq Hassan Khan, Arfan Ali Khan and Commandant Kurram Militia Col Umar Malik addressed the meeting.

An official said important decisions were taken in the wake of series of bomb blasts in Parachinar and Gowdar areas which had killed and wounded over 400 people.

Officials said the vigilance committees would continue operating in their respective areas to check activities of suspected people. Display of weapons has been banned and local people have been asked to cooperate with the security forces in this regard, they added.

It is worth mentioning that people in Pewar, Shalozan, Borki and Kherlachi areas in upper subdivision of Kurram have already set up vigilance committees. APA Tariq Hassan told the jirga that anti-state elements were trying to disturb law and order situation in Kurram valley, but the government would foil their designs.

Published in Dawn, May 06th, 2017