MINGORA, October 24: The members of peace committee in Swat district say they have been deserted by their relatives and friends due to fears of Taliban attacks.
The government has set up peace committees in various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and FATA region, with an aim to fight militants through people. Authorities have set up one such committee in Swat.
Mr Rehman Shah Sail, a spokesman for the Swat peace committee, told TNN that in addition to members of peace committee and elders of local Jirga, anyone can be targeted if they speak for welfare of the area.
“Our friends and other acquaintances say that because we are associated with the peace committee, we are always on target of militants. That is why they do not spend time with us and keep themselves aloof from us,” he added.
He added, “People associated with the defence and peace committees are suffering mental stress. Several members of such committees have been targeted so far. I think the Jirga can resolve the Talibanisation issue.”
This year 23 members of the peace committee have been killed in Swat district.
The Superintendent of Police (Investigation) in Swat, Mr Gulza Khan, says that the crime rate had gone up because of increasing population. He added that the police had arrested several people in various cases.
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