PESHAWAR, Oct 9: Members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from Jamaat-i-Islami on Wednesday voiced reservations about the de-weaponisation campaign in Lower Dir district, which, they said, caused unrest in the area.

Speaking on a point of order, MPA Muzaffar Said told the house that police backed by other law-enforcement agencies had launched the de-weaponisation campaign in Lower Dir.

According to the deputy inspector general of police in Malakand division, the campaign will continue until Oct 15.

He said police began a house-to-house search operation and raided residential compounds, which had created disturbance.

The MPA said the army had already conducted the de-weaponisation campaign in the area and the local people had voluntarily handed over heavy weapons and ammunition to it.

He said the residents of Lower Dir had no sympathies with the miscreants and local jirga had supported the government’s action against anti-social elements.

Mr Muzaffar said the people supported targeted operation against troublemakers and as a result, the area was comparatively peaceful in entire Malakand division.

He said the local residents had retained light weapons like pistols and shotguns for self protection but now, police were recovering light weapons from villagers, which had sparked resentment among them.

MPA Mohammad Ali of JI from Upper Dir district also supported his colleague and said the local qaumi jirga was very active, which had played a major role in the maintenance of law and order situation in the area.

He proposed that the law-enforcement agencies suspend operation and make consultation with local parliamentarians and elders on future course of action.

Minister for Zakat and Religious Affairs Habibur Rehman said the government would look into the matter and produce the report about the Lower Dir de-weaponisation campaign in the house by Friday next.

Responding to a call attention notice of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl MPA Mufti Fazal Ghafoor, Health Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said the government would soon ensure free provision of hepatitis-C vaccines to people at public sector hospitals and health centres across the province.

He said a summary for purchase of fresh stock of vaccines had been sent to the chief secretary for approval.

The minister said on the Peshawar High Court directives, vaccines had been sent to National Institute of Health, Islamabad for laboratory test and if those vaccines were found genuine, then the stock would be supplied to the hospitals for distribution to patients.

He said the government would release Rs500 million for purchase of vaccines if required. The assembly will begin discussion on the Local Government Bill, 2013 tomorrow (Friday).