KOHAT, Dec 4: Locals have complained that they are in fear of their lives due to the virtual control of the criminals associated with a banned outfit, Muhammadzai Falahi Tanzeem (MFT), over the area.

Talking to Dawn , they accused these outlaws of terrorising them for money and said motorists, motorcyclists and police vans are fired at after sunset.

Of late, the chief of the outfit stepped down while calling for action against its criminal elements.

During a meeting here on Friday, the current chief of the outfit banned last year, Haji Gul Mir Khan, accused police of falsely booking his associates for attacking them.

According to him, recently, police fired gunshots at MFT activist Haji Gulzar Khan but they hit another policeman after missing the target injuring him. However, police registered a false case of attack on their personnel against Haji Gulzar, who later went into hiding.

Mr Haji Gul demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident so that the truth could come out.

When contacted, a spokesman for the district police officer claimed that criminal activists of MFT had attacked police injuring a constable and that efforts were underway to arrest the 'main culprit' Haji Gulzar.

He said police were trying their level best to contain the activities of the banned outfit comprising criminals and proclaimed offenders by and large.

The spokesman alleged that the outfit had established a parallel police system in Muhammadzai area bordering Orakzai Agency.

He said a few months ago, police began arresting MFT activists and booked them for attacks on their personnel but halted the exercise after the outfit's elders promised to halt their activities.

He, however, said the promise later proved false.The police spokesman said the outfit and its splinter group operated in the area against the law.