SITUATIONER – Political motives on the part of certain stalwarts of peace lashkar and senior officials within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government are becoming beneficial to no other than militants, sheltering in surrounding areas of Peshawar.
The war of words between the peace lashkar and the ruling Awami National Party is now turning the “war on terror” to another direction. After coming into power around three years ago, ANP leaders initiated steps for the constitution of peace lashkars with a view to combat the growing influence of militant groups in the area, particularly in the adjacent tribal belt. In this respect, the first ever peace lashkar was organised at Adezai, situated close to Frontier Regions of the tribal belt. Late Haji Abdul Malik became the founder of the peace lashkar established with collaboration of the government. Workers and stalwarts from almost all political forces joined the lashkar.
A leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami and serving the area as union council Nazim, Malik had played a key role in flushing the militants from the area. However, the militants became infuriated with formation of the lashkar and they embarked upon a series vengeful acts, like the assassination of Abdul Malik and attempts on the lives of several others, including another former union council nazim Faheem Khan.
After Malik’s death, the lashkar got divided into two main factions, thus making easier the task for the militants.
Several suicide attempts were also made against the leaders and members of the peace lashkar or their close relatives. So far, around 47 leading figures and members of the lashkar have been killed in terrorist attacks and properties worth billions of rupees have also been damaged. Almost all economic and agricultural activities in the area are on a halt. Addressing a press conference a couple of days ago, Dilawar Khan, who now leads the peace lashkar in Adezai, levelled serious allegations against the government for what he called its failure to extend logistic and financial support to peace lashkars.
And two days after Khan’s press conference, a tragic suicide attack on a funeral procession enabled him to go intensify his criticism of the government.
While expressing resentment over the tragic suicide attack, Khan threatened to end supporting the government in the war on terror and disbanding the peace lashkar. In this connection, he even alleged that “ANP workers and leaders are supporting the Taliban”. Although ANP leaders have rejected the allegations, it was observed that peace lashkar’s are heading towards becoming the other “pressure group” in the region.
No one can deny the role of traditional peace lashkars in driving away the militants and leaders and members of these lashkars have rendered tremendous sacrifices. Similar is the outcome of ANP-led coalition government’s policies, which mobilised the public against terrorists and forced the custodians of law to realise their responsibilities. Each side has a right to stick to its political ideologies, but instead of focusing on achieving political goals, politicians within the government and stalwarts of traditional peace lashkar must continue cooperation with each other until a complete eradication of terrorism. It could be hard for both sides to accept “goods from the militants” if they end cooperating with each other.
