PESHAWAR: The police’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) including civilian security forces, will lead the operation against militants in the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s apex committee decided on Thursday.
It was also decided that the provincial government would request the judiciary to form a commission to probe the clashes which resulted in the death of one person during a peace march last week.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur chaired the apex committee meeting, which included civil and military officials. The committee condemned all forms of militants and decided to take broad action against “unauthorised” armed persons and their hideouts across the province, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting noted that there won’t be a military operation in the province but vowed indiscriminate action against terrorist groups.
“Police have been ordered to arrest and take legal action if they find any unauthorised armed person,” the statement said, adding that the offices, bases and checkpoints of these militants will also be targeted during the operation.
As per the statement, actions in areas with suspected militants’ presence and religious seminaries would be taken by CTD.
It read that the operation would be carried out by the police and CTD, for which they are being provided with more resources — manpower, vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and weapons.
Moreover, candidates from KP’s southern districts would be prioritised for new recruitments in the force.
The apex committee, however, decided that until CTD was able to fight militants in areas bordering Afghanistan, the operation against militants would be carried out by the armed forces.
The top body also directed the police to patrol southern KP districts on a priority and assist the cops deployed in those areas.
While discussing cross-border movement, trade and job opportunities, the committee was informed that since people living in the merged tribal areas depended on trade with Afghanistan, the provincial government has requested Islamabad to set up cross-border trade facilities on Ghulam Khan crossing in North Waziristan and other points in Bajaur and Mohmand.
These would be in addition to the facilities already present at Torkham, Kharlachi and Angoor Adda borders. This would not only create job opportunities for locals but also discourage illicit trade, the meeting agreed.
