KOHAT, June 18: The district coordination officer, Hangu imposed Section 144 on Wednesday banning display of weapons, pillion riding and gatherings for one month for maintaining law and order after the Tuesday’s killing of four people.

The DCO, Hangu Shahab Ullah Shah, also banned delivering of controversial speeches, wall chalking, firing in the air and carrying of petrol in bottles, as preventive measures against sectarian violence in one of the most sensitive areas of the country, official statement issued here on Wednesday said.

It may be recalled that unidentified armed men had killed four persons of the same family by opening fire at them in the bazaar on Tuesday. The incident caused outrage among the Shiite population.

Meanwhile, Taliban took over the responsibility of keeping a check on the criminals and outlaws involved in igniting sectarian violence and disturbing peace in the area.

They had asked the police not to patrol the roads in the night, as they were more capable of performing this duty.

They patrol the Hangu-Thall and Thall-Sadda highways up to the border areas of Kurram Agency in 30 vehicles mostly Land Cruisers equipped with rocket launchers and latest arms and ammunition during night.

A Taliban spokesperson said that they had warned the banned religious groups, which had been responsible for the killings of hundreds of people to remain peaceful or they would use force against them.

Since they took control of Hangu district in late 2007 there had been visible change in the activities of banned groups and criminals because they could not fight armed Taliban.—Correspondent