KP police say Swat under control

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) Police on Friday said that the police are cognizant of the videos circulating on social media of heavy presence of militants in the Swat Valley.

A press release issued by the KP Police Central Office said that police are also aware of the apprehensions in general public that Swat may return to 2008/09 era when militants ruled the valley with their version of Shariah.

The KP Police assured the public that they are fully cognizant of the fact that some individuals from Swat previously living in Afghanistan were present in far-flung mountainous areas of Swat. However, Swat is totally under the control of civil administration and all LEAs are ready to respond to any misadventure.

It said that peaceful society of Swat has no space for terrorism in any form and manifestation. “LEAs are appropriately placed and will resort to all possible measures to ensure peace in Swat as per aspirations of local populace,” the press release said.

Meanwhile, the local residents and members of the civil society on Friday staged protests in two tehsils of Swat to demand security after the reported resurgence of the militants in parts of the district.

Carrying banners and placards, the members of the civil society gathered at the Khwazakhela and Kabal bazaars. They were chanting slogans and asking the government to take measures to maintain peace in the district.

“The people of Swat suffered a lot during the previous military operation against the militants. The government must take steps before it’s too late,” said one of the protesters. The protesting Swatis urged the police and security forces to take stock of the situation and take steps to maintain law and order in the scenic valley.

Meanwhile, the police established more check-posts and intensified checking in the district in the wake of the new development. The people and vehicles were being checked before letting them enter the city. The police increased patrolling in the area as well.

Police officials said that they were committed to providing security to the people and would not allow anyone to disrupt the peace in the district. Unrest prevails in mountainous areas of the district where people mostly remain indoors after the reported re-emergence of the militants.

Meanwhile, talks between the protesting tribesmen of North Waziristan and the Parliamentary Committee constituted by the federal government bore fruit on Friday that led to the reopening of the business centres and roads for 15 days.

It may be mentioned here that the tribesmen have been protesting to demand peace and an end to target killings for the last 28 days. The business centres and important roads were closed after the launch of the protest.

A team of the district administration negotiated with the elders from Wazir, Marwat, Banuchi and Ahmadzai Wazirs but there was no breakthrough. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the issue and constituted a 16-member Parliamentary Committee headed by Akram Khan Durrani, a senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl and former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The committee talked with the Utmanzi elders in Mir Ali town at Eedak, which proved to be successful. The committee asked the tribal elders to reopen the roads and highways along with the business centres. The tribal elders agreed to reopen the roads and businesses for 15 days.

The Parliamentary Committee will take up the demands of the Utmanzai elders with the authorities within 10 days and let the tribal elders know about the progress. However, the protest camp set up by the Utmanzai elders would continue during all this time. It was agreed between the two sides that the Independence Day would be celebrated with full zeal.