MIRAMSHAH, Sept 27: The local Taliban have set up their office in Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, for ‘curbing crimes and anti-social activities’ in the area.

Announcements were made and pamphlets distributed in the town on Wednesday, asking residents to cooperate with the Taliban in keeping peace in the agency.

The office with a telephone facility has been set up on the premises of the main bus stand in Miramshah. The Taliban Shura has appointed a committee to run the office.

“There is complete lawlessness in the area and crimes have increased. So after the peace accord Taliban have set up office to serve residents of the area and restore peace,” read one pamphlet, apparently referring to the agreement signed between the government and the Taliban on Sept 5.

The Taliban have imposed ban on the movement of ‘masked men’ in the agency and asked people to inform them if anybody found moving about in the area with his face covered.

The pamphlet said that if an incident of robbery, dacoity or any other criminal act took place in the area, people should immediately contact the Taliban by phone or lodge a complaint at their office.

Meanwhile, military authorities returned Kalashnikovs, books and other material belonging to a seminary owned by Afghan jihadi commander Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani on Wednesday. Some tribal elders received these items.

Officials said security forces had raided the seminary a few months ago and seized arms and equipment.

Under the peace accord, the government and militants would return weapons and other equipment snatched during army actions.

In another development, political authorities set free three more people from Miramshah jail on Wednesday. Yousaf, Noor Hassan and Labir Khan were arrested a few days ago near the Pakistan-Afghan border in Kurram Agency.

Officials said the three belonged to the North Waziristan Agency and were released on bail.

The suspects were handed over to ex-senator Mateen Shah, Maulvi Noor Habib Shah and Maulvi Gul Ramazan.

Earlier, 10 suspects were released on bill.

Agencies add: Another leaflet posted around Miramshah said clerics would be collecting funds to pay for a force aimed at protecting people from criminals.

Reuters news agency rang the telephone number on the leaflet and was told by Maulvi Nizamuddin Borakhel: “We opened the office to take action against masked men who are criminals.”

He insisted that his group was not anti-government.

“We want the pact with the government to be enforced completely, but these (masked) people are creating mischief against the country,” he said.

A government official said the vigilantes had also tried to advertise their presence on one of the many FM radio stations that have sprung up in tribal areas.

“There are some crazy people, especially youngsters, who want to show off their power and are doing such things,” said Shah Zaman Khan, spokesman for a department dealing with tribal affairs in Peshawar.

“We have set up the office basically to implement the accord, to prevent disorder and take action against criminals,” said a spokesman for the Taliban.