LANDI KOTAL, May 4: The political administration of Bara tehsil on Friday issued notices to Shalobar area residents, asking them to vacate their houses and shift to safer places within four days so that an effective search operation against militants could be carried out.

“In view of deteriorating law and order situation and increasing activities of militants in Shalobar area, people who are still residing in the area have been asked to vacate their houses and shift to safer places within four days,” assistant political agent, Bara, Bakhtiar Mohmand told Dawn.

He said that it was in the interest of Shalobar tribesmen to leave the area so as to enable the security forces to conduct an effective search operation. He said that the responsibility of any damage due to the impending military operation would rest with the local residents if they did not leave the area.

Hundreds of residents had already moved out of Shalobar area after security forces launched the new phase of military operation “Biya Daraghlam” in November last year.

However, dozens of women and children who had stayed back despite official persuasions, lost their lives due to indiscriminate artillery firing during last seven months.

Meanwhile, Khyber Agency political agent Mutahir Zeb on Friday asked the elders of Akkakhel tribe during a jirga in Khyber House to return to Akkakhel areas where the government writ had been restored after a successful military operation and formation of local peace committees.

Zeb claimed that almost 80 per cent of Akkakhel area had been cleared of militants and it was safe for the local people now living in Jalozai camp to come back to their native areas.

He also assured the Akkakhel elders that the administration, security forces and local peace volunteers would strive hard to restore peace in Meerikhel, Madakhel and Sherkhel and cleanse these areas of miscreants.

The political agent cautioned the Akkakhel elders that failure to return to the areas cleared of militants would result in suspension of all official privileges.  He said that as a last step they could consider demolition of houses of those tribesmen not returning to areas where peace had been restored.

The Akkakhel jirga assured the political agent that they would provide support to the administration in maintenance of peace in the area.