Kidnap fear: Govt officials in DI Khan advised against unnecessary movement

PESHAWAR: Keeping in view the deteriorating security situation in Dera Ismail Khan, the district administration has issued a security advisory to all government employees to avoid any unnecessary movement as the militants had planned to kidnap government officers and officials of the law enforcement agencies.

“Enclosed find herewith a security advisory letter No. 13307/C dated 30-09-2024 received from the District Police Officer, Dera Ismail Khan, wherein it has been communicated that “Khawarjis” are planning to kidnap Government Officers/ Officials/ LEAs during their movement on Bannu-DI Khan, DI Khan-Zhob and Tank Road, Dera Ismail Khan. Given the sensitivity of the situation, the following measures have been recommended,” the deputy commissioner of DI Khan stated in an official notification, whose copy is available with The News.

Commissioner of DI Khan Division, Syed Abdul Jabbar Shah, confirmed the development to The News, but said the situation was under control and there was nothing to worry about. He said the security advisory was issued to government officers who were not following the instructions given to them from time to time in the last few months, particularly after some recent incidents in the area, complaining that some officers were still not taking the required precautions seriously.

In the security advisory, the deputy commissioner asked the government and law enforcement agencies personnel to avoid unnecessary/frequent movement, and also avoid unnecessary/ stay during movement.

“You are advised to avoid one route for traveling, and avoid movement to Tank or South Waziristan Upper and South Waziristan Lower as well as Darazinda Road. Don’t share schedule of your movement with irrelevant people and departments,” the deputy commissioner stated in the notification.

The deputy commissioner has given certain telephone numbers in the notification and advised the officials to dial those numbers in case of any mishap. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan Upper, South Waziristan Lower, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, and the adjacent areas such as Hangu, Orakzai and Kurram have been suffering from severe security difficulties for the past few years.

Dera Ismail Khan is the hometown of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur.

There had been the deadliest terrorist attacks on the law enforcement agencies in DI Khan in which all of the forces including the military, police and paramilitary Frontier Constabulary suffered heavy casualties.