MANSEHRA: A resident of Haran Palas in the Kohistan region has demanded police protection for his son over the issuance of an assassination decree by a local jirga.

Mohammad Tahir told reporters on Monday that a jirga in Kolai-Palas ordered the killing of his son and a local girl under thechorcustom for “bringing dishonour on the community.”

He said a “death squad” formed by the jirga had killed the girl and was searching for his son.

Mr Tahir, a school headmaster, claimed his family knew about the jirga’s decree only after the squad stormed its house to seize his son.

“They [armed men] warned us of dire consequences in case we failed to hand over our son to them for killing,” he said.

The resident said the slain girl’s family lodged an FIR on the matter but settled it out of court afterwards.

He said the Constitution promised protection for people’s lives, so the police should take steps without delay for the safety of his son.

“I recently requested the deputy inspector general of police in Hazara Range through an application for the protection of my son’s life. He sent the application to the district police officer of Kolai-Palas with the orders for action against suspects,” he said.

Mr Tahir also called for the government’s effective measures to eliminate the Chor custom.

BOOKED: Police have booked a constable and a businessman’s son over celebratory gunfire here.

An FIR registered by the Nawazabad police station in Baffa-Pakhal tehsil the other day said police constable Mohammad Rafique fired into the air during a rally to celebrate the election victory of PML-N nominee for PK-40 Mansehra-V Sardar Shahjehan Yusuf.

It added that the police tried to arrest the suspect, but he fled.

The same police station booked Sardar Umar, the son of businessman Sardar Saleem, for firing into the air at that rally.

The police started raids to arrest suspects, according to officials.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2024