A grand jirga of Malakand Division has unanimously called for the police force to be equipped with modern security equipment and advanced gadgets, saying stronger policing is essential to holding the peace in a region that has borne the brunt of militancy.

The jirga was held at the Swat Police Training Centre on Saturday, with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, attending as chief guest. Its stated objectives were to pay tribute to the martyrs and to deliberate on the challenges facing the region in maintaining peace.

The gathering brought together the Inspector General of Frontier Corps, Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed, Regional Police Officer Swat Zahid Nawaz Khan Marwat, deputy commissioners and district police officers, along with politicians, educationists, lawyers and prominent representatives from different walks of life. Vice chancellors, MPAs and former ministers and senators were also among those present.

Addressing the jirga, Mr Muqam described the gathering as a positive step towards resolving public issues, promoting peace and stability, and enhancing the operational capacity of the police. He said the people of Malakand Division had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the restoration of law and order, and that lasting peace and stability could only be achieved through public support and cooperation.

He said the people, the Pakistan Army, the police and other security institutions had jointly written an unforgettable chapter of sacrifices in the war against terrorism. The elders said personnel of the army and police were their own sons and enjoyed their wholehearted support.

The jirga also demanded the complete withdrawal of all kinds of taxes imposed on Malakand Division. Mr Muqam said the federal government had been apprised of the taxation-related and other economic difficulties faced by the people of the merged districts and Malakand Division, and that he had consistently raised the issues in the National Assembly, in relevant parliamentary committees, in the federal cabinet and before the prime minister. He called for collective efforts to address the burden of unnecessary taxes on the public.

On development, the minister said progress had been made on land acquisition and compensation for the Swat Motorway, but practical work on the relevant agreement needed to begin. He expressed hope for early progress on an Rs18 billion development project with the support of the Korea Export-Import Bank, and urged the relevant authorities to take effective measures to ensure its timely completion.

Mr Muqam paid tribute to the police chief and the Swat regional police officer for bringing representatives of different schools of thought onto a common platform, and proposed extending the model to other divisions, districts and tehsils of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen direct engagement with the public. He said all institutions would have to work together on healthcare, education, roads and other basic facilities in Malakand Division, and stressed that keeping the police free from political interference and ensuring merit-based appointments were essential for maintaining law and order.