|
Taliban hand over control of Darra Adam Khel to govt
Local Taliban handed over control of Darra Adam Khel to the government after a jirga assured them that there would be no more criminal and 'un-Islamic' activities in the area. "The Taliban have given up control of Darra Adam Khel after the jirga assured them that it would take action against anti-social elements and un-Islamic activities in the area," Senator Abdur Raziq from Darra told Daily Times on Monday. He said that according to the agreement, the Taliban would retake control of Darra Adam Khel if the jirga or the local administration failed to fulfill their promise. The jirga consisting of Kohat District Coordination Officer (DCO) Shahbullah, Kohat Assistant Political Agent Tariq, Darra MNA Dr Nasim, clerics and elders of the Zargunkhel, Akhurwal, Bost-e-Khel, Torchapar and Sherki tribes also assured the Taliban that they would not let anyone from criminals' families occupy their destroyed houses for five years. Raziq said the local administration and the Kohat DCO supported the jirga and said that they may use force against criminals if needed. He added that the jirga had released nine criminals who had been 'arrested' by masked Taliban during their weeklong 'anti-criminal' campaign in Darra Adam Khel. He said the Taliban had also given control of the Indus Highway and Charganu village to the khasadar force. The Taliban had occupied Charganu village after killing four alleged criminals, recovering four kidnapped persons and 18 stolen vehicles and destroying eight houses. The senator denied that the Taliban had banned girls' education in the area. "The Taliban have only banned music, video centres and other un-Islamic activities," he added. Haji Khan Gul of Darra Adam Khel said that following the Taliban's warning, several car-lifters had taken out stolen cars from their hideouts. "People have stopped preparing fake degrees and other documents, vehicles' number plates and passports due to the fear of the Taliban," he added. Posted by: Fred 2007-08-14 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=196075 |