LAKKI MARWAT: Jamat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa South emir Mohammad Ibrahim has opposed the large-scale military operation in Bannu and Khyber districts, saying the Provincial Apex Committee’s decision had panicked people of Janikhel and Tirah areas.

Speaking at a news conference at the Bannu Press Club on Tuesday, he said that a jirga of local elders, political leaders, businessmen and religious figures had been convened on December 28 to formulate a joint strategy in that regard.

Flanked by party’s district chief Mufti Arifullah, secretary general Ejazul Haq Surani and Bannu Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior vice-president Nasir Khan Bangash, the JI leader regretted that the 16-point demands of the Bannu peace jirga, which had also been endorsed by the Provincial Apex Committee headed by the chief minister, could not be implemented till date.

He said the cantonments of Bannu, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan had been made no-go areas for the general public. “The military authorities should order opening of cantonments to the general public so as to bridge the gap between people and security forces,” he said, asking the provincial government to ensure implementation of the 16-point demands approved by the apex body.

Mr Ibrahim declared that the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Fourth Schedule did not exist in the civilised societies.

“The government has promulgated rigorous and harsh laws to empower the security forces and other law enforcement agencies to block the national identity cards, passports and bank accounts of people,” he said.

He demanded of the government and local authorities to exclude the name of a trade leader, Nasir Khan Bangash from the Fourth Schedule, and provide a government job to a family member of Aftab Ali, who was killed in a mortar shell attack.

The Jamaat leader said the trial of civilians in the military courts was unconstitutional.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2024