PESHAWAR, Nov 23: The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party has expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Swat and Shangla, describing the two districts as zones over which the authorities have no control.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the PMAP alleged that militants, who had set up a parallel government in Swat and Shangla, were enjoying the backing of secret agencies. Instead of taking strict action against them, the agencies had forced local people to leave, it said.

The party said the government had no writ in the two districts and residents had been left at the mercy of militants, who were trying to impose their will on them. It was the duty of the government to provide protection to the residents.

In the case of Swat and Shangla, the party said, the government had not only failed to discharge its duties but had also been trying to deceive the world.

According to the party, one-third of the Swat people had shifted to other areas since what it called the state-managed onslaught of militants on the valley. Law-abiding residents of Swat and Shangla were fully aware of the ‘mysterious drama’ unfolding in their districts and other parts of the Pakhtun belt.

The party called upon the federal government to disarm the so-called militants, expel them from Swat and Shangla, restore rule of law and ensure early supply of food items to the violence-hit districts.

The party appealed to the people to forge unity in their ranks against the militants and to keep a vigil on anti-people activities of miscreants in order to foil their designs. It asked the government to take worthwhile action against the militants.