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Tribes form lashkars against Taliban

* 600-strong lashkar assisting police in rural Peshawar
* Kalla Khel lashker to impose Rs 5 million fine, demolish houses of Taliban backers

PESHAWAR: Various tribes formed lashkars to assist the government against the Taliban on Friday.

A 600-strong tribal lashkar has started assisting police in patrolling the rural areas around Peshawar, a statement said. The lashkar was formed after a meeting between the capital city police officer (CCPO) and local elders. The elders assured the police of their co-operation against the Taliban. The statement said the police had provided weapons to lashkar members.

Fine: The Kalla Khel tribes in the Khyber Agency formed a 300-strong lashkar against the Taliban in the Bara area. The lashkar announced to impose a fine of Rs 5 million and demolish the houses of those sheltering or helping the Taliban. A Zakha Khel tribe jirga announced to form a lashkar against the Taliban after Eid. Separately, a jirga consisting of Shinwari tribe elders and the Landikotal political administration remained inconclusive on the issue of forming a lashkar against the local Taliban.

The Landikotal assistant political agent (APA) asked tribesmen to form a lashkar against the Taliban, which, according to him, were involved in crimes such as road theft. Tribesmen said it was the government’s duty to take action against the Taliban.

The political administration warned the tribesmen it would block the Ziarai Road if they fail to stop the militant group Lashkar-e-Islam from using the road. Addressing the jirga, tribal elder Hafiz Wilayat Shah called the political administration demanding the tribesmen to take law in their hands “out of its senses”. staff report

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