TIMERGARA: General Officer Commanding, Malakand division, Major-General Asif Ghafoor on Friday said action would be taken against Afghan refugees possessing fake Pakistani national identity card.

He was addressing a meeting of local government representatives, area elders, politicians, army officers and lawmakers at the Dir Scouts Fort here.

The GOC said the Pakistan Army would remain present in the region to maintain law and order and ensure security of western borders.

Commandant of Dir Task Force Colonel Khalid Mehmood Shafi, Lower Dir deputy commissioner Irfanullah Wazir, district nazim Rasool Khan, DPO Akbar Ali Shah, MPA Saeed Gul and tehsil nazim were also present on the occasion.

The GOC appreciated the people of Malakand for their sacrifices and full cooperation extended to security forces for eliminating militancy and said it was the public support that helped the Pakistan Army defeat terrorists.

“We know the people of Malakand fought side by side with the Pakistan army due to which the lasting peace prevails across Malakand today,” he said.

Major-General Asif Ghafoor said the fleeing terrorists were targeting soft targets in different areas of the country. “The next two or three months are very crucial for the country,” he said asking the people to immediately inform security forces if they spot suspicious activities in their respective areas.

The GOC said a temporary steel bridge was being installed at Khazana Bypass Road by the Pakistan Army.

He said the bridge would be opened to light traffic in few days. Major-General Asif Ghafoor said the establishment of cantonment in Swat would help establish the CMH Hospital, army public school and cadet college in the region.

He asked local residents to identify Afghan refugees involved in suspicious activities and inform security forces about them for action.

Meanwhile, opposition leader in the Lower Dir district council Malik Mohammad Zeb has demanded the inclusion of Khall tehsil in Lower Dir district before the next general elections.

He made the demand during a meeting with Lower Dir deputy commissioner Irfanullah Wazir at the latter’s office on Friday.

Also, the newly-appointed district health officer, Dr Shaukat Ali, on Thursday directed the administration of the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Samar Bagh to make the emergency OPD and labour room functional without delay.

During a visit to the hospital, he also issued orders for the immediate utilisation of heavy machinery rusting away for years.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2016