LOWER DIR: Malakand Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai on Wednesday said that the government had not inked any agreement with the militants to regroup in the region.

Addressing a khuli kutcheri in Balambat as chief guest, he said that the writ of the government was fully enforced. Former lawmakers, tehsil chairmen, political activists and local elders attended the event.

Lower Dir Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair Khan Niazi, DPO Ikramullah and others also spoke on the occasion.

The commissioner said that no deal was inked with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. He said that no one would be allowed to take the law into his hands. He said that people of Dir should support the administration in completion of development projects and maintenance of peace.

Dir elders voice concern at khuli kutcheri over poor law and order

He said that it was impossible for the state to maintain peace without the support of people. He said that land settlement would help to reduce land disputes in all districts of Malakand division. He said that the land settlement in Dir would be initiated in consultation with local elders and jirga members.

Earlier former MNA Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, former provincial minister Muzafar Said, former MPAs Saeed Gul, Malik Behram Khan and Malik Jehanzeb Khan, Timergara tehsil chairman Mufti Irfanud Din, Akhunzada Sikandar Hazrat, Qazi Azizul Haq Usmani and other elders spoke about the deteriorating law and order situation in Dir and Swat.

They said that four people including two policemen were killed in an attack on MPA Malik Liaqat Ali in Maidan. They said that the lawmaker and his relatives were injured in the attack but the government kept silent over the matter.

They said that people would not let anyone to disturb the peaceful environment of Lower Dir. They said that the situation was being disturbed under a plan but locals would not leave their houses.

They questioned entry of militants to Dir and Swat despite fencing and guarding of the border with Afghanistan. They said that administration should take concrete steps against the militants present in the area.

The speakers demanded of the administration to allow them to keep arms for self-defence as according to them the state failed to protect them.

Responding to them, DPO Ikramullah said that a team of police officers was investigating the attack on the MPA. He said that soon the elements involved in the attack would be brought to book. He added that so far 40 suspects were arrested.

Later, the commissioner also inaugurated a CT scan unit, oxygen plant and other units at the district headquarter hospital Timergara.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2022