BAJAUR: A large numbers of residents of 24 areas of Lowi Mamund and War Mamund tehsils of Bajaur district on Saturday left their homes to secure themselves in the wake of the ongoing targeted operation against terrorists in the region.

The residents of 24 areas mostly of Lowi Mamund tehsil, evacuated their homes hours after the district administration’s deadline to vacate by 10am on Saturday (August 16), to ensure their safety during the anti-terrorists offensive, said a notification issued by the deputy commissioner on August 14.

The area residents and volunteers of different non-governmental organisations, facilitating the displaced people, told Dawn on Saturday that though displacement began soon after the administration’s order but a significant exodus was witnessed on Saturday, the last day of the deadline.

Besides, the district administration, several non-governmental organisations and well off people arranged free of cast transport facilities for the displaced people who along with their different belongings and cattle were shifted to the relief camps and to their relatives’ homes.

Curfew imposed in Lowi Mamund, War Mamund tehsils for six days

Besides the transport facilities, the district administration and several non-governmental welfare organisations and well off persons, also established facilitation centres in different areas, providing free of cast food , water and cold drinks to the displaced people.

It may be mentioned that neither the district administration, nor the PDMA and non-governmental organisations had the updated figures about the displaced people.

However, according to a PDMA source, the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the 24 affected areas of Lowi and War Mamund tehsils could swell to 60,000 after the fresh displacements.

The source told Dawn that most of the displaced people had been settled within the district as most of them were residing in the official relief camps set up in about 200 educational institutions and Bajaur Sport Complex in Khar.

SIX-DAY CURFEW IMPOSED IN BAJAUR TEHSILS: Meanwhile, the authorities imposed a six-day curfew in 24 areas of Lowi Mamund and War Mamund tehsils of Bajaur district to carry out the targeted operation against militants.

The restrictions, aimed at ensuring residents safety during the targeted operation against militants, were enforced from 5pm on Saturday (August 16).

“This is to inform the general public that the district administration with the approval of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department has imposed curfew in 24 areas of Lowi Mamund and War Mamund tehsils for the safety of local residents during the targeted operation against the terrorists there,” stated the notification.

According to the notification issued on the deputy commissioner’s official Facebook page around 4 pm on Saturday, said that the six days long curfew would be enforced in Malangi, Sapary, Dawowgi, Mena Sulman Khail, Khoorchai, Zagai , Gat, Agra, Gondai, Zari, Nakhtar, Mula Kalley Bakaroo, Gohati, Chimialoo, Lar Kalan, Bar Kalan, Gaman Shah, Choohtra, Damadola, Sultan Baig, Inam Khoro Chinagi and Agra areas.

The notification seen by Dawn, said that during the restriction to be continued till 5 pm on August 21, 2025, all the residents of the mentioned areas must restrict themselves to their homes.

No one would be allowed to come out from their homes and at roads during the curfew times and those violating the order would be themselves responsible for in case of any unpleasant incident.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025