LAKKI MARWAT: Elders and government officials on Tuesday agreed to launch joint efforts to maintain peace and improve law and order situation in Karak district.

The agreement came during a meeting held at the office of the deputy commissioner.

Kohat Commissioner Motasim Billah Shah and Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Ahmad Jan and with elders matters pertaining to the law and order situation in Karak.

Noted among the elders were Khattak Ittehad president Mudassir Ayyub, Badrus Salam, Sajjad Khan, trader leader Tahir Ayyub and Sajjad Khan.

Both sides agreed to make concerted efforts to promote peace and harmony in the district.

The commissioner assured elders that the administration would ensure the utilisation of all available resources and ways to ensure lasting peace in the area.

He said no one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government and disturb the peaceful atmosphere.

Highlighting people’s role in promoting peace, the commissioner said the elders and other residents should keep a close liaison with the district administration, police and other law-enforcement agencies to counter miscreants and anti-peace elements.

He said that the divisional and district administrations and other government institutions were actively engaged to counter all challenges effectively to maintain durable peace in the area.

The elders said they would cooperate with authorities for peace in the district by defeating terrorism.

On Feb 9, a jirga of Karak elders warned if armed groups did not vacate people’s land within three days, they would use force (lashkarkashi). The elders also demanded facilities for local police and strengthening of the counter-terrorism department to deliver the goods.

Also in the day, Karak deputy commissioner Shakeel Ahmad Jan chaired a meeting of the district coordination committee at his office on the orders of the provincial government under the chief minister’s public service agenda.

The participants, including assistant commissioners, additional ACs and officials from law-enforcement agencies and relevant departments, decided to take stringent measures to check the spread of hateful and derogatory material through social media.

They said that cases would be registered against those involved in such crimes.

The deputy commissioner ordered registration of seminaries, warehouses and ambulance services and said action should be taken against illegal filling stations and stone-crushing plants in the district.

He also ordered action against illegal foreigners, especially Afghan refugees, in the district and steps to check terror financing and arms and ammunition smuggling.

The deputy commissioner said the administration was committed to eliminating illegal activities in the district.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025