No threat to Peshawar as militants pushed back: official

[Naveed Yaseen]

Syed Bukhar Shah

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Division Commissioner Arbab Shah Rukh has said there was no threat to the provincial metropolis and the writ of the state was well in force.

“Peshawar is no longer under threat from attacks as the militants and miscreants have been pushed back from adjoining areas, including Mattani, Michni and some other peripheries of the provincial capital,” he told reporters after addressing a function at the Press Club on Monday wherein he handed computers, furniture, air-conditioners and other items donated by Fata Secretariat to the club.

“Peshawar is safe now as the police have flushed out diehard militants and anti-social elements from Mattani, Michni, Jamrud, Shahkas and other adjacent areas,” he added. The official said operations at Mattani and Michni and other areas were aimed at securing Peshawar and minimizing incidents of kidnapping for ransom.

Shah Rukh said the police operation had restored the confidence of the people. The commissioner said the operation would continue against anti-social elements, adding that the government had restored its writ in Mattani, saying nazims and other people were supporting the police action.

He maintained the provincial government wanted the magistracy system to be revived and the committees formed by the government were working on a mechanism to bring back deputy commissioners without making any changes to the local government system. “The federal government will make a decision on the local government system,” he said adding that it was the responsibility of the government to give correct information to the media on all issues to remove misconception among the public.

Shah Rukh asked the media to highlight problems in the society and efforts being made by the government to have them resolved. He said the Fata Secretariat would also donate the same equipment to press clubs in other districts of the province. He assured the journalists the government would provide them security and financial assistance. Later, the commissioner visited the library and other sections of the press Club.

The Fata Secretariat donated 10 computers, one UPS, 10 air conditioners, one multimedia projector, one television set, heavy duty power generator, 200 chairs for the conference room, books for the press club library and one photocopier for journalists.

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