PESHAWAR, Feb 16: Residents of Hazarkhwani and adjacent colonies have formed a volunteers’ body to patrol the areas and counter militants’ attacks against local people.

Hazarkhwani Union Council Nazim Hidayatullah Khan, as a spokesman for the body, told Dawn that movement of suspected armed men and the threatening letters received by some people in the areas had created panic among the residents.

“People have lost confidence in police and can’t depend on them, the only option left with us is to take a unified stand for our safety,” he said.

He said a committee comprising 33 elders belonging to different localities had been formed to assign duties to volunteers’ groups, each having six members, for patrolling at night time in and around the localities.

Another group of elders, he said, had been formed to monitor activities of the patrolling groups, adding the elders would also resolve old disputes among different families of the areas so that the unity could further be strengthened.

The decisions, he said, were taken at a meeting of the elders. He said the participants had decided to oppose militants and protect the villagers in case of any attack on them.

He also said suspected drug smugglers and drug addicts in the areas had been given 10 days to stop their activities, otherwise they would be handed over to police.

In many cases, he alleged, police were supporting drug pushers and if action against the wrongdoers was not taken the volunteers themselves would do the job.

The nazim said the meeting had also approved a proposal that if drug smugglers had some stock of contraband items, the jirga would compensate them and the items would be put on fire.

He observed that formation of the volunteers’ groups was the only solution to the prevailing uncertain law and order situation.

He said the people were worried about their lives and properties and were ready to take all possible steps for their protection.