Curfew lifted from most of Malakand Agency, Swat

[Naveed Yaseen]

MINGORA: To facilitate unrestricted movement of the people of the troubled areas, the Swat Media Centre (SMC) announced lifting of curfew from parts of Malakand Agency and Swat district.

A spokesperson for the SMC told The News that curfew had been lifted completely from Mingora, Saidu Sharif, all areas of Kabal, Charbagh and Barikot. However, it would remain in place according to its schedule in Matta tehsil and Khwazakhela. “Matta and Khwazakhela are under another division (of the Pakistan Army) that’s why we did not announce lifting of curfew in these areas,” he said while explaining the reason for leaving out the two areas.

The curfew was also lifted from Malakand Agency, wherefrom the main road leads to all districts of Malakand division. However, the spokesperson said entry to Swat and other areas, where there was curfew, would not be allowed during nights and routine checking at the checkpoints would also continue.

“Departure from Swat even during nights will be allowed,” he said. After the lifting of curfew, people will enjoy unrestricted movement round-the-clock in Swat valley. Curfew was causing huge problems for the people of the valley.

The security forces took a group of journalists Monday to Palai area of Malakand Agency, telling them that the militants had been entrenched there and that the area had now been cleared of insurgents. Col Akhtar Abbas told the media that eight militants were killed during the operation and 13 arrested. A free medical camp was also held in the area in which 800 patients were examined.

Meanwhile, security forces continued search and clearance operations in Swat valley and arrested 11 militants while five others surrendered, a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.

It said the security forces during search operations in Baqi Banda and Dhand areas of Swat arrested 10 militants while one was apprehended in Aligrama area. It claimed that relatives of the senior Taliban commander, Fateh, were arrested from Mingora. “Five terrorists voluntarily surrendered to security forces at Darmai, Bar Shawar and Alamganj,” it added. Two suspected militants were arrested from Sarsenai area of Kabal.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=201792