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NWFP considers inducting Taliban into police, Levies

* Malakand commissioner says government will re-establish writ of state within 2 years

By Iqbal Khattak

MINGORA: The NWFP is considering inducting the Taliban into the police or Levies forces as part of a rehabilitation policy, a senior official said on Monday.

“I have proposed the Taliban be adjusted in police or Levies force and have suggested this at several forums,” Malakand Division Commissioner Syed Muhammad Javed told Daily Times. The proposal follows a lacklustre response from policemen that deserted their posts to protect themselves from Taliban retaliation.

Over 600 police officers in Swat have deserted the force since the Taliban insurgency started two years ago. Official figures have revealed that 70 police jawans have been killed and 160 wounded since July 4, 2007. “The police jawans’ confidence is shaken,” Javed said, pointing to the Taliban’s demoralising the police by kidnapping and beheading their colleagues. He said a new salary package was under consideration to attract people to the force.

The Taliban also kidnapped lady constable Aalya near Mingora around six months ago. Unconfirmed reports claim she was married to a Taliban commander against her will. Javed said he has heard similar reports but has no conclusive proof.

Two years: The commissioner said the government would re-establish the writ of state within two years. “We are slowly re-establishing the writ of state,” he said. He also said the government had not reached a final decision on the fate of Swat Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah. Saying Fazlullah was a “good human being”, Javed said only Fazlullah could explain why he had taken up arms against the state.

The commissioner said he was also working to maintain peace following claims by several tribesmen they would seek revenge on the Taliban for murdering their relatives. “We will hold a grand jirga at Malakand level to help people forgive following the return to peace,” he said.

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