LAKKI MARWAT: Marwat Qaumi Jirga (MQJ) has asked security forces to flush out militants from the district or give a free hand to police to launch an offensive against them.

The jirga met here at Children Park in Lakki city on Sunday. Former federal minister Anwar Saifullah Khan, MQJ head Haji Mohammad Aslam Khan, former federal secretary Akhtar Munir Marwat, former MNA Naseer Mohammad Khan, MPA Johar Mohammad, Ghaznikhel tehsil council chairman Zeeshan Mohammad Khan, Lakki tehsil council chairman Shafqatullah Khan, Naurang tehsil council chairman Haji Azizullah Khan, former tehsil nazims Faridullah Khan and Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Malik Ali Sarwar and Iqbal Hussain attended the jirga.

Local elders and a large number of people from across the district also participated in the jirga. “People pay taxes to the government hence it is the prime responsibility of government and its institutions including security forces and other law enforcement agencies to restore peace and ensure provision of security to people in the district,” said Akhtar Munir Marwat.

He said that elders could not leave their people on the mercy of militants. “A handful of militants cannot be allowed to occupy the district with a population of nearly one million,” he added.

Elders also suggest giving free hand to police for launching offensive

Mr Marwat questioned as to how a handful of militants had become a constant threat to peace and harmony in the district.

He asked security forces to eliminate militants or empower police to take action against them.

“To maintain law and order is the responsibility of police and if they swing into action against miscreants locals will fully back them,” he said.

The MQJ leader said that tribesmen would stand against militants if security forces and police did not accomplish the task.

MPA Johar said that the jirga had been convened with the sole agenda of restoration of peace on the soil of Marwats. He said that wrong policies of former rulers and military establishment were the main reason for growing lawlessness and deteriorating law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Those wrong policies are still in vogue and people are facing the brunt of them,” he said. He added that growing militancy was unacceptable to people and they wanted peace on their land.

Maulana Samiullah Mujahid, Naseer Turab, Inayatur Rehman and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024