For the first time, the government has conceded that its writ in the tribal areas and NWFP is shrinking gradually, morale of the law enforcing agencies is declining and the Lal Masjid's stand-off has further added fuel to the fire.
Official sources told Business Recorder that nearly 300 people lost their lives while 807 sustained injuries in suicide attacks, bomb blasts and target killings during 2006 and 2007. "Writ of the government is shrinking gradually, militancy, lawlessness and terrorism are on the rise and morale of law enforcing agencies is on the decline," the sources quoted Chief Secretary NWFP as saying in his briefing to the federal cabinet three days ago.
The cabinet was summoned to discuss exclusively the law and order situation in NWFP, Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA), Provincially Administrative Tribal Areas (PATA) along with flood situation. The sources said that movement of militants, their financial and moral support is also growing in the presence of multiple law enforcing agencies as the incidents of containers and vehicles snatching and kidnapping of government officials are on the rise.
In 2007, the number of bomb blasts in CD shops were 20, followed by 4 in girls collages and schools and 4 in barber shops while 21 threatening letters were received by the CD shop owners, 9 by the girl schools and collages and 5 by barber shops.
The sources said that Tehrik-i-Nefaz-i-Shaariat-i -Muhammadi (TNSM) is also gaining momentum especially after Bajaur agency's incident. Maulana Fazlullah, son-in-law of Maulana Sufi Muhammad, has emerged as a firebrand religious leader, the sources said, adding that TNSM had played active role in 1994 violent protests.
According to the provincial government, major impediments are insufficient number of firepower of law enforcing agencies as present police strength is 35386, whereas required strength is 65000 (one policeman for 450 people).
"Cross border movement between FATA and NWFP, lack of coordination mechanism at regional level, lack of co-ordinated response by security and intelligence arms and absence of public mobilisation mechanism are also the major impediments in dealing with unfortunate incidents," Chief Secretary NWFP further said, in his presentation to the cabinet.
The National Security Council (NSC) which met with President General Pervez Musharraf in the chair on June 4 had recommended that strength of police, Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary in NWFP, public mobilisation, constitution of board-based and bipartisan Aman committees, greater coordination among security forces, local administration and intelligence agencies and setting up of three regional coordination offices.
In a meeting chaired by the President on June 12 and two other meetings on June 25 and July 2, co-chaired by the President and Prime Minister, decided that 7500 additional police for NWFP by the federal government. 6000 SMGs, 100 RFG-7 with ammunition, 700 bullet proof jackets, 2000 helmets and 20 APCs be provided to NWFP police. Training of 9007 police recruits from July 23 is also part of the package approved by the federal cabinet.
The sources further said that the measures like repatriation of 46 platoons for FC to NWFP (31 have arrived), upgradation of heavy weapons, raising of new wings for FC and augmentation of its weaponry besides selection and training of additional FC forces was also approved.
They said, establishment of three regional coordination offices (DI Khan, Bannu and Peshawar) and mobilisation of public against militancy and extremism through induction of Aman committees at District, Tehsil and police station level are also part of the approved package which would be completed by December 2007.
During the intervening period of June-December 2007, army's support to be provided. While police, FC and Frontier Corps would play main role and army to be available on as and when basis and order in aid of civil power. The sources said that the amount of approved package is Rs 3.765 billion which include salary, allowances, training expense, transport, equipment (jackets and jammers etc and 20 APCs.
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