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Bara residents told to leave homes as operation looms
 BARA: A top-level meeting on Friday approved action against self-proclaimed spiritual leader Mufti Munir Shakir for taking law into own hands as residents of the area have been told to leave their homes to minimize losses during the operation against miscreants.
| "Take what you can carry and get out! There's a posse a-comin'!" |
Continued fighting in Bara between two rival groups had prompted the Governors House to intervene in the situation.
"Aaar! We're holier 'n youse are!"
"Die, apostate!"
"Take that, infidel!" |
According to a statement from the Governors House, the decision to intervene comes as Shakir-led radical groups continued attacks on rival group members for the second consecutive day after clashes left three dead and several wounded on Thursday. It was concluded (in the meeting) that to restore peace and avoid ongoing bloodshed of innocent people, it has become absolutely necessary for the government to take action.
"Lt. Chaudry! It is necessary to restore peace and avoid ongoing bloodshed of innocent people!"
"Yessir!"
"Tell them to send up the dynamite!" |
The meeting unanimously decided that punitive action against the Mufti group be taken immediately and the political administration (of Khyber Agency) had been directed to issue notices to residents of the areas to clear their houses immediately to minimise damages.
| "The government's coming the save you! Run!" |
A resident of Bara sub-division told Daily Times that there was absolute lawlessness as the administration had given the Shakir group a free hand. The radical group continued attacks on the rival group on Friday burning down the house of the deputy chief of Bara Peace Committee, Maulana Mustameem, in Nala Malikdeenkhel, Jan Muhammad Afridi said.
| Bara Peace Committee... headed by a holy man... and they burned down his house. I like it! |
A tribal journalist said that two people were killed when the Shakir group attacked rival group members and six were wounded. He said the armed group members were attacking rivals and the deployed paramilitary force was not intervening in the clashes.
| "Who? Us? Intervene? Yer kidding, right?" |
Earlier, Shakir defied a Jirgas decision to leave Khyber Agency whereas the rival group leader, Pir Saifur Rehman, left the area.
Posted by: Fred 2006-02-25 |
