Zarb-e-Azb might be extended to Mohmand

GHALLANAI: Army and political administration officials warned tribal elders here Friday that the “Zarb-e-Azb” operation would be extended to Mohmand Agency from July 3 if they failed to maintain law and order in their respective areas.

Speaking at a grand jirga of tribal elders, Political Agent Mehmood Aslam Wazir, Commandant Mohmand Rifles Colonel Hafiz Asif Iqbal and other officials said that terror incidents were on the rise in Mohmand Agency.

They announced closure of the Khakh Bazaar in the Safi tehsil after the distribution of pamphlets allegedly by the militants. The officials also announced confiscation of property in the Halimzai tehsil because arms and ammunition were seized in this area in Prata Killay and a bomb explosion had taken place there in Krappa.

The officials alleged that terrorists were working on the agenda of Christian-Jewish lobby to destabilise Pakistan. They said the terrorists were killing the security forces personnel, kidnapping tribesmen and demanding ransom from the people.

The Commandant Mohmand Rifles and the Political Agent warned that the “Operation Zarb-e-Azb” would be extended to Mohmand Agency from July 3 if the tribes failed to maintain law and order in their respective areas.

They asked the tribes to identify and hand over the terrorists and their facilitators to the law-enforcement agencies or else face the consequences under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

The officials said that the tribesmen living within a kilometre area of any terror incident would face the music and their land and other properties in that area would be confiscated.They said local jirgas would be constituted for the purpose and would work in coordination with the security forces.

The Political agent directed the officials to inform the tribes about the decision of the jirga. The elders requested the officials to relax the deadline for launching the operation. They said that constitution and strengthening of Qaumi jirgas would require three months time.