PESHAWAR, Dec 20: The NWFP government on Saturday termed the military operation in Swat a failure and called upon the security forces to take “effective action” against militants so that peace returned to the valley.

The NWFP cabinet, which met here on Saturday, decided to invest police with sweeping powers for curbing the growing menace of kidnapping for ransom as “militants and influential persons having hideouts in the settled areas are involved in the activity”.

“A perception is growing that mostly innocent people are being killed in the army operation. Therefore security forces should carry out the operation in such a manner as to restore confidence of the local populace,” said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the provincial information minister, at a media briefing. Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti chaired the meeting. Malik Naveed, the province’s police chief, was also present.

The cabinet discussed the law and order situation in the light of attacks on Nato supplies in Peshawar and security arrangements for Muharram.

“The provincial government thinks that there is a strong resentment among the people of Swat regarding the military operation. Residents of the area believe that innocent people are being targeted instead of militants’ hideouts,” Mian Iftikhar said.

In reply to a question whether the NWFP government was satisfied with the Swat operation, the minister said the cabinet had “all the respect for the Army”, but it had to air people’s concerns nevertheless”.

He made it clear that the provincial government wanted the security forces to stay until peace was restored to Swat.

The cabinet gave vast powers to the police to curb kidnappings for ransom. The minister accused militants of kidnapping people for “fund-raising”, adding that the cabinet had told police to go all-out to eliminate the menace

“without bothering about the identity or affiliation of criminals”.

“We have given the police a free hand to check kidnapping cases and they could even demolish houses of kidnappers. No political influence will be acceptable,” Mian Iftikhar asserted.

In reply to a query about any misuse of such blanket powers, the minister said the government had “assigned these powers as test case”.

“We have taken this bitter pill for improving the existing situation.”

MAGISTRACY REVIVED: The provincial cabinet decided to revive the erstwhile executive magistracy system. The system was abolished on Aug 14, 2001, when General Pervez Musharraf started implementing his devolution plan.

The information minister said 1,500 personnel of the Elite Force would be trained in the first phase while 1000 others would get training in the second phase. “The cabinet approved an immediate release of Rs 70 million for purchasing equipment for the force,” he added.Mian Iftikhar said a jirga would be sent to Islamabad for to secure funds for strengthening the police force. If the federal government did not approve the request, the NWFP government would divert money meant for development sector to this head, he said.

The cabinet, Mian Iftikhar told journalists, decided to ensure “proper security” to Nato convoys transiting the province, but only 200 containers would be allowed at a time.

“Around 3,000 loaded containers meant for foreign troops in Afghanistan are presently at the Karachi port and we do not have the capacity to provide proper security to all simultaneously.”

He said police believed that between 30 and 40 militants were involved in the recent attacks on terminals used by Nato convoys in Peshawar.