Further demands include enhancing capacity and resources of local police to take non-discriminatory action
By Mehrab Shah Afridi
BANNU: In a meeting held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister’s House on Monday, jirga leaders called for a permanent end to both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban in Bannu and opposed Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. According to details reported by Daily Metro Morning, the jirga was attended by the K-P chief secretary, IG police, commissioner, regional police officer of Bannu, and the deputy commissioner, and was chaired by K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur.
The elders in the jirga presented 11 demands to the K-P CM.
They demanded that search operations should not involve inappropriate behavior towards seminaries, homes, and individuals, and that Jumma Khan Road should remain open for public convenience. The jirga leaders stated that unnecessary raids on seminaries and homes should be avoided to prevent public agitation and unrest.
They highlighted the need for the local administration to have full authority to address the patrolling of Taliban in the area. They urged that the Counter-Terrorism Department be fully operational and authorized to act against terrorists and criminal elements. Further demands included enhancing the capacity and resources of the local police and granting them complete authority to take non-discriminatory action.
Additionally, the jirga requested that injured police officers in terrorism incidents receive treatment at CMH and that all injured individuals be transferred immediately. After hearing the demands, CM Gandapur assured the jirga leaders that a meeting of the provincial apex committee would be convened within two days to discuss the presented demands and pledged that these issues would be raised in the committee.
