LANDI KOTAL, Dec 20: The political administration of Khyber Agency has warned Kukikhel tribe of strict action if it fails to fulfil its collective territorial responsibility by expelling extremist elements from its area.

Addressing a jirga of Kukikhel tribe in Jamrud on Tuesday, Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Jameel made it clear to the tribal elders that situation deteriorated in the area during the last few days as militants shot dead down a human rights activist and later blew up a high school for girls. “Such activities are totally unacceptable to the administration and if not checked on time, they will have bad repercussions,” he said and called upon the tribal elders to extend help to the local administration in checking the movements of anti-social elements in the area.

Mr Jameel reminded the tribesmen that if they failed to respond to their collective responsibilities, the administration would have no other option but to launch a military operation in Jamrud.

“The responsibility would entirely rest with the Kukikhel tribe,” he said. The assistant political agent added that the Kukikhel tribe must chalk out a comprehensive plan to purge their area of militants and outlaws.

Speaking on the occasion, Kukikhel elders Malik Mohammad Ismail, Malik Faizullah Jan and Malikzada Salahuddin assured the political administration of their full support and cooperation. However, they demanded of the political authorities to help them identify the unwanted elements in their area.

“We will not allow non-locals to live in our area if they fail to provide concrete assurance about their good conduct,” they said. They added that they were mindful of their collective responsibilities provided the local administration also took sincere steps in combating militancy.

Meanwhile, local leader of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Wali Khan Afridi has demanded of the government to stop immediately the ongoing military operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency and resolve the issue through negotiations.

In a statement, he also demanded that all displaced families from Bara should be registered at the Jalozai camp and provided with all the basic amenities of life.

He lamented that thousands of displaced persons from different parts of Bara were still awaiting their registration at the Jalozai camp. They were also deprived of the assistance, which the government had announced for internally displaced families from tribal areas, he said.

Mr Afridi said that 28 months of continued military operation and imposition of curfew in most parts of Bara had badly affected the local economy. All the markets and business centres in the area had been closed since the launch of military operation, he added.

“Thousands of Bara students have been deprived of getting education as most of the educational institutions have either been closed owing to military operation or destroyed by militants,” he said.

Mr Afridi added that political administration should take local elders into confidence to resolve the Bara issue through negotiations.