MINGORA, Nov 21: A jirga of Nekpeekhel area has announced that they will stand witness in the court against the militants arrested by security forces in Swat district.

A meeting of Nekpeekhel Qaumi Jirga, held at the residence of Ali Khan here in Kabal on Sunday, said that militants were the common enemies of security forces and local people. “We will extend every possible support to the security forces in the fight against terrorists,” the jirga decided in its four-hour meeting.

Kabal Aman Committee chairman Mohammad Amin presided over the jirga meeting, which was attended by about 120 elders and elite of the area.

The participants discussed issues related to the current security situation and restoration of durable peace in the militancy-hit valley. The jirga decided that its members would stand witness in the court against militants to ensure that they were punished for their terrorist activities and killing of innocent people.

They decided that steps would be taken to wipe out terrorists from the entire Malakand division. They reiterated that the jirga would cooperate with the security forces to track down terrorists who had escaped.Later, the participants appointed Saifullah Khan, former nazim of Totano Bandai union council, as head of the Nekpeekhel Qaumi Jirga.

OVER 100 'MILITANTS' HELD: The security forces on Sunday arrested over 100 suspected militants during a search operation in the Chaparyal area of Matta tehsil.

Sources said that the security forces imposed curfew in the area and arrested over 100 suspects during the search operation. Some of the suspects were released after initial interrogation.

Curfew was imposed in the Shoqdarra area of Chaparyal 10 days ago following a clash between the security forces and militants and since then people had been facing numerous problems as they could not come out of their houses. At least eight militants were killed in the clash.

Meanwhile, DIG Malakand region Qazi Jameelur Rehman has said that the Swat police are capable to work in challenging circumstances.

He was talking to officials during his visit to police stations of Peochar, Chaparyal, Khwazakhela, Kalakot, Charbagh, Totano Bandai, Kabal, Shah Dherai and other areas. The DIG also exchanged Eid greetings with police officials.

He asked the police to serve people as true public servants.