Malakand jirga hears taxes will wait for lasting peace

A grand jirga arranged by Swat Police at the Police Training School in Mingora brought local elders, jirga members, political and social figures, journalists and senior officials of security institutions together to discuss law and order in Swat and the rest of Malakand Division.

Federal Minister Engineer Amir Muqam told the gathering that the people of Swat, the police and the security forces had made great sacrifices for peace, and that the forces had lost many personnel in the fight against militancy. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were committed to peace, and that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Malakand Division, stood with the state.

Muqam said security personnel should keep a visible presence across the mountains and stay with local communities until the area was fully rehabilitated. Taxes should not be imposed on the people of Malakand Division until lasting peace was restored, he said, and all stakeholders would jointly raise the matter with the government. He said Rs160 billion had been allocated to strengthen the police force and claimed the force had been freed from political interference. The federal minister said the political setup introduced after the imposition of governor's rule had raised new hopes among people, and that accountability and practical steps to solve public problems were both needed.

Inspector General of Frontier Constabulary Rao Imran said the people of Malakand Division had always supported the security forces and would keep working with them. A small number of misguided individuals could not be allowed to damage peace in the country or the region, he said, and urged the public to avoid any contact or cooperation with militants. He said an improvement in the security situation in Lower Dir and Bajaur would help restore peace across Malakand Division.

Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed said participants had spoken openly and the jirga's purpose was to hear public concerns and understand the challenges communities face. He said discussions had been held with the government on raising police salaries and on a proposal to increase the compensation package for police martyrs by three to four times, so that their families could build their own homes. Steps would also be taken to lift police salaries above those offered in other provinces, he said.

Hameed said 20 four-wheel-drive pickup vehicles had already been provided to Malakand Division Police, along with armoured vehicles, additional weapons, sniper equipment and thermal weapons, and that more than 2,000 new personnel had been recruited in the division. Police stations across the province were being digitalised and capable people would be included in District Resolution Committees, he said.

The provincial police chief said the government would seek a middle ground on the taxation issue, that he would follow up with the relevant authorities for early completion of the motorway project, and that Tourism Police would be strengthened to ensure the safety of visitors. Malakand Division would receive its due share of the announced Rs160 billion package, he said.