Tribal districts’ DCs seek bomb-proof vehicles amid rising militancy threats

PESHAWAR. Amidst rising militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deputy commissioners of the merged tribal districts have requested the provincial government to provide bullet-proof and bomb-proof vehicles for them and their subordinate administrative officers.

A few days ago, the provincial government issued guidelines for government administrative officers asking them to restrict their movement due to the precarious law and order situation in the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to sources, due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the merged tribal districts, the administrative officers are facing difficulties in handling public dealings and administrative affairs daily.

The deputy commissioners of the merged districts have requested the provincial government to provide them with bullet-proof and bomb-proof vehicles for their own security and their subordinate administrative officers.

The sources further said that the deputy commissioners of North Waziristan and South Waziristan have sent letters to the KP additional chief secretary home and tribal affairs with a request to convert the official vehicles into bullet-proof and bomb-proof given the security threats faced by the district administrative officers.

Additional Chief Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Abid Majeed told HUM News English that the case of providing bullet-proof vehicles to the officers has already been approved by the provincial cabinet in the last meeting.

It should be noted that on January 4, in the Lower Kurram area of ​​the tribally merged district, unknown persons fired at the convoy of the deputy commissioner when he was negotiating with the local people to open the closed road for the convoys carrying relief goods. At least seven people including Kurram DC Javed Mehsud were injured in the firing incident.

According to the initial probe, the convoy was attacked at 10:35 am, despite the guarantees of the peace committees formed as part of the peace agreement in a bid to restore normalcy in Kurram. The committees comprise of tribal elders, former lawmakers, and local leaders and they would ensure that the recently signed peace agreement remains intact.