PESHAWAR: The apex committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decided on Tuesday to ‘gradually’ withdraw army troops from checkpoints in areas where the security situation is improving.

However, a statement issued by the Governor’s House, did not mention any timeframe and the areas from where withdrawal of troops would start. It only said that the vacated checkpoints would be manned by police.

The statement also did not say who would replace the troops in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in case of their pullout from there.

Also read: KP police report: 100% conviction rate after NAP claimed

The apex committee meeting, presided over by Governor Mahtab Ahmad Khan, was attended by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Corps Commander Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman and senior officials of the military, law-enforcement agencies and civil administration.

KP police chief Nasir Khan Durrani, who attended the meeting, said that it had been decided that the army troops would be withdrawn from the checkpoints, but no timeframe or areas had been specified.

“It (pullout) will take some time,” he said, adding that deployment of police at the checkpoints would be planned according to capacity and resources of the force.

“The process will start gradually,” he added.

The army was called out in the province in 2007 by the then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government to curb insurgency in Swat valley, spearheaded by outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazlullah.

The army had launched an extensive operation against militants in Swat and other districts of Malakand division in 2009. Army and paramilitary troops were also deployed in other districts of the province and on the main highways to restore the state’s writ.

The troops have been manning checkpoints on the Indus Highway, Motorway and Grand Trunk Road, other main highways linking tribal agencies with KP and inner roads of all major cities and towns to contain movement and activities of terrorists.

The official statement said the apex committee had reviewed progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and discussed matters relating to the return of temporarily dislocated persons (TDPs) and the law and order situation in the province and Fata.

The committee expressed satisfaction over the progress and called for taking further steps. The meeting was briefed on security measures and rehabilitation arrangements in the affected areas.

The meeting was informed that more than 800,000 TDPs had returned to their homes with the government’s assistance.

LOUDSPEAKERS: It was decided that misuse of loudspeakers would not be allowed and action taken against those involved in militancy. No-one will be allowed to use loudspeakers for spreading hatred, violence and anarchy.

The committee decided that elements providing any sort of assistance and financial support to terrorists and other criminals in the province and Fata would be taken to task. All such channels of illegal monetary support will be blocked.

The officials concerned were directed to contact the federal government for the return of eight platoons of the Frontier Constabulary.

These troops will be deployed on the Karakoram Highway and other important points in the province.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015