Public display of weapons banned in Waziristan

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: Authorities on Thursday banned the display of weapons in North Waziristan Agency while forming two committees to buy heavy weapons from the tribesmen.

A spokesman for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas Secretariat stated that after the ban on the display of firearms in North Waziristan Agency’s main bazaars, the political administration had set up two committees to purchase heavy weapons from the tribesmen at market prices.

“The public display of weapons in the agency’s main bazaar’s has been banned under a disarmament campaign in the tribal areas. Those violating the ban will be fined and their weapons will be confiscated,” he said.

The two committees consist of civil and military experts, said the spokesman, adding that one committee would evaluate the heavy weapons offered for sale by the tribesmen while the other committee would fix their price according to the market value and purchase them from the tribesmen without extending undue hurdles.

The disarmament campaign was also launched in South Waziristan Agency where security forces have killed and arrested hundreds of Al Qaeda-linked militants.

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