LAKKI MARWAT: A local jirga has pledged to launch joint efforts for maintenance of peace in Karak district.

The jirga was held on Monday. Military and civil officials, public representatives, local elders and religious scholars attended the jirga. Noted among them were General Officer Commanding Maj Gen Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Provincial Agriculture Minister Sajjad Barakwal, MNA Shahid Khattak, Kohat Commissioner Moatasim Billah Shah, RPO Abbas Majeed Marwat, Karak Deputy Commissioner Shakil Ahmad Jan and DPO Shahbaz Elahi.

Local elders presented suggestions for improving law and order in the district and bridging the gap between people and law enforcement agencies.

They assured authorities that they would stand by police and security forces to establish writ of the state and thwart nefarious designs of anti-peace elements.

Elders call for bridging gap between people and law enforcement agencies

They said that a close liaison between law enforcement agencies and people would prove helpful to bring lasting peace to the district.

Maj Gen Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti stressed the need for joint efforts for establishment of peace in the district. He asked elders and religious scholars to remove misconceptions among people and build their trust in government institutions.

KIDNAPPED: More than 12 armed men kidnapped two married women of a nomad family after injuring their male relatives with firearms in Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat district on the night between Sunday and Monday.

Police said that the incident occurred near a cement factory in the limits of Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station.

“The attackers armed with assault rifles escaped while the injured were shifted to district headquarters hospital,” they said.

Injured Mota Khan, 60, a resident of South Waziristan, told police that he along with his family members and cattle herd reached the town from Tank and camped near the cement factory.

He said that 17 armed men attacked their tents at around midnight. “My sons Naseem Khan, Rahim and Shargay, and my nephew Mohammad Wali and I were injured in the attack,” he said, adding that the attackers took away two married women with them.

He nominated Sardar Ali, Nek Shah, Mir Sawo, Nawaz Khan, Zohaib, Bazeed, Azad and Imran, residents of Dera Ismail Khan, and Gula Khan and Gul Badin, residents of Mianwali, and Qayyum, Wali, Syed Akbar, Anwar, Tillah and Atlas, residents of Tank in the FIR.

He said that his family had a woman-related dispute with the attackers.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025