Jirga chiefs resisted Operation Azm-e-Istehkam and demanded a permanent end to both “good” and “bad” Taliban in Bannu during a meeting on Monday at the Chief Minister’s House in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
The Jirga was presided over by K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur and was attended by the chief secretary, the IG police, the commissioner, the deputy commissioner, and the regional police officer of Bannu, according to information obtained by Express News. Eleven demands were made of K-P CM by the elders in the jirga.
They insisted that Jumma Khan Road be kept open for the benefit of the general population and that search activities not involve inappropriate behavior against seminaries, residences, or individuals.
The leaders of the jirga declared that in order to keep the populace calm and peaceful, needless raids on residences and seminaries should be avoided.
They emphasized that the local government must have complete ability to deal with the Taliban’s patrols in the area. They demanded that the Counter-Terrorism Department be given full operational authority and authorization to take action against criminal elements and terrorists.
Other demands included giving the local police full ability to conduct non-discriminatory action and increasing their capabilities and resources.
The Jirga also demanded that all injured parties be relocated right away and that CMH treat injured police officers involved in terrorist attacks.
Following the hearing of the demands, Chief Minister Gandapur promised the leaders of the jirga that the province apex committee would meet in two days to discuss the demands made and that the committee will bring up these concerns.
