LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Jan 28: Things seem to be going out of control of the administration in Bara as a religious leader has warned the area’s elders, MNA, senator, councillors and journalists of dire consequences if they are found “guilty” of cooperation with the political authorities.

Addressing a gathering of his supporters in Akkakhel on Sunday, Mufti Munir Shakir criticised the political administration for their failure to expel his opponent Pir Saifur Rehman from Bara.

He said that his armed supporters would start patrolling Bara bazaar and tehsil offices from Monday and would ‘punish’ those who were found cooperating with the authorities.

Referring to arrest of his supporters, Mufti Munir said his followers could not be subdued with such official tactics. He said they would resort to use of force if the administration failed to expel Pir Saifur Rehman from Bara.

The two religious leaders have differences over observance of certain religious rituals and are engaged in a mud-slinging campaign against each other both in public and on their private FM radio stations installed in Malikdin Khel and Sipah areas. They had also been demanding expulsion of each other from Bara.

Mufti Munir turned down tribal journalists’ request to provide them security during coverage of events in the troubled area.

“We will not be responsible for security of media men “, he said.

Meanwhile, patients had to face a lot of difficulties as doctors and medical practitioner in Bara were forced to close down their business owing to a public meeting of Mufti Munir Shakir in Akkakhel.

The Bara Tajir Ittehad, too, has been asked to close down their business in future during a public meeting of the Mufti.