MINGORA, Dec 8: Swat valley is slowly returning to normality with large numbers of displaced people coming back to areas now under the control of security forces. With the forces preparing for a major assault on the last strongholds of the militants in Matta tehsil, Maulana Fazlullah managed to air his address on the radio after a gap of six days on Saturday and announced: “My Shaheen commando force is fully prepared to face the forces.”

Scores of families have returned to secured areas, including Shakardara, Koza Banda, Bara Banda, Ningolai, Khwazakhela and Kot.

Public transport carrying people and their luggage could be seen throughout the day on roads. The displaced people had been taking shelter mostly with their relatives in Mingora and other towns. Some had shifted to other cities such as Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar.

Meanwhile, a girl, daughter of Sherzada Khan, who had suffered injuries when a shell landed at her house in Shakardara, died in a local hospital. Earlier, three other daughters of Sherzada had died in the same incident.

The government ended the daytime curfew in the area and now it would be clamped from 6pm till 7am.

It is learnt that the forces were planning to launch a major operation in areas considered to be strongholds of militants, including Chuprial, Ghut Peuchaar, Shore and Aghal.

“The forces have been strengthening their positions in the secured areas and will soon launch an assault in some areas of Matta tehsil where the militants are believed to be hiding,” said Major Amjid Iqbal, a government spokesman at the media centre in Mingora.

He said that 24 militants had been arrested from different areas of Swat, including 13 from Ayub Bridge, seven from Bariam Bridge and four from Kabal area. However, he declined to reveal their identities.

Maulana Fazlullah in his address said: “My amirs are present in all villages and you people should follow their directives instead of acting on your own.”

His FM channel was broadcast in Khwazakhela, Shakardara and some areas of Matta. He claimed that the morale of his men was high and it would take centuries for the security forces to eliminate them from Swat.

“We have only changed our strategy and moved to mountains to avoid civilian casualties,” the cleric said and called on the people to return to their homes.

The radical cleric was last heard on the radio on the night of Dec 1.

The maulana’s speech was followed by another person, who addressed listeners in Arabic and kept his identity secret.

Meanwhile, a group of soldiers visited the Saidu Sharif hospital and enquired after the health of patients injured during the military operation. They distributed fruits among the patients.

The forces also dropped chocolates from helicopters in different areas.

The ISPR said the Saidu Sharif airport would soon become operational. Army engineers had been removing mines from the area and authorities had been approached for providing Airport Security Force and other operational staff, it added.