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Published 06 Nov, 2006 12:00am

Shura plans peace campaign: New militant commander named for Waziristan

PESHAWAR, Nov 5: A Shura (council) of militant groups in the North and South Waziristan agencies has decided to launch a campaign against lawlessness and appoint a committee to collect donations to finance Mujahideen’s activities.

Pamphlets distributed purportedly on behalf of the newly-appointed militant Commander Mullah Muhammad Nazir in Wana and Miramshah on Sunday said the Mujahideen’s Shura had outlined steps for restoring peace and curbing crime in the two areas bordering Afghanistan.

Sources said that militant groups had unanimously declared Mullah Nazir as their Amir about two months ago. Mullah Nazir has replaced Haji Muhammad Omar, elder brother of commander Nek Muhammad who was killed in a missile attack in 2004.

The sources said that Mullah Nazir, who is on a list of people wanted by the Afghan government, had close affiliation with Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

They said the Shura had met at an undisclosed location in South Waziristan a few days ago and agreed on the guidelines to restore normalcy in the agencies.

The pamphlets written in Pushto said that a joint financial committee would be set up to monitor collection of donations.

“Nobody will be allowed to collect donations and the amount collected as donation will be utilised for bearing expenses of the activities of Mujahideen,” according to one pamphlet.

Earlier, militant groups in North Waziristan had imposed taxes and announced penalties for various acts. But, the decree has not been enforced yet.

A jirga comprising ulema from the two agencies would be set up to resolve disputes among tribesmen.

“People taking part in jihad are like our brothers and all are equal in the light of the Quran and Sunnah,” read the pamphlets. The Shura resolved that any militant group trying to violate its decision would be ‘eliminated’ and its weapons would be handed over to the council.

People without beard would be expelled from militant groups. The outfits would also be asked to remove criminals from their ranks and surrender their weapons.

The Shura directed tribesmen and militants to remove tinted glasses from their vehicles.

The pamphlets asked the tribesmen involved in feuds not to take revenge on their rivals in marketplaces.

It warned that anyone involved in a revenge action in a bazaar would be punished.

The sources said that the move to appoint Mullah Nazir as the Amir of the Taliban was aimed at settling differences among the militant groups.

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