Elders in Lower Dir want steps to restore peace

TIMERGARA: Political leaders, local elders, and representatives of various jirgas on Saturday expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Lower Dir and urged the authorities to take immediate steps for the restoration of peace.

The concerns were expressed at a multi-party conference convened by Jamaat-i-Islami at Ahyaul Uloom, Balambat. The event was attended by political leaders from across the district, tribal elders, lawyers, social activists and media representatives.

The speakers included JI district chief and former MNA Maulana Asadullah, ANP district president and former MPA Haji Bahadur Khan, PPP district president Nawabzada Ahmad Zeb, former NA candidate Alam Zeb Advocate, PMLN district president Malik Farooq Iqbal, former provincial minister Malik Jehan Zeb, JUIF district chief Sirajuddin, PTI’s Kashif Kamal, former MPA from Upper Dir Malik Bahram Khan, District Bar president Mohammad Saleem Advocate, Trade Union president Haji Anwaruddin and others.

The participants of the conference expressed grief over recent incidents of violence in Maidan and Lajbok and offered prayers for those martyred in clashes with militants. A joint declaration adopted at the conference regretted the absence of sitting members of the national and provincial assemblies.

The declaration voiced concern over worsening law and order situation in Maidan and Lajbok, saying residents were living in fear and facing difficulties in their daily lives, businesses and movement. It demanded that the government take concrete measures to protect lives and property, restore peace, and engage political parties and local elders in efforts to find a durable solution.

The elders warned that local communities would not allow mass displacement and, if the state failed to reassert its authority, political and community leaders would be compelled to act on their own.