Khyber Pakhtunkhwa decides to withdraw army from Malakand

[Cyberian]

KP decides to withdraw army from Malakand
Saturday, June 08, 2013

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to withdraw army from Malakand region, including Swat, gradually enabling the civil administration to take full control of the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas, a ruling party MPA said on Friday. “We have decided to withdraw the army from Swat and Malakand region,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA and party’s provincial General Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai confirmed. The previous government of Pakistan People’s Party had ordered the army to launch an operation against Maulana Fazlullah-led Taliban in Swat in June 2009 displacing millions of people from the region.

Shaukat Yousafzai said the withdrawal would be gradual and army would hand over control to civilians in areas where security situation was completely normal now. “Soft places would first be handed over to the civilian administration.” The PTI MPA, who is among the hopefuls for ministries, did not say when the withdrawal would begin. Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Sherpao Khan had been demanding withdrawal of army from Malakand after the region stabilised with the ousting of Maulana Fazlullah-led Taliban who now appear to have taken refuge across the border in Afghanistan.

Shaukat Yousafzai also brushed aside the impression that the differences between PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami over the issue of Education Ministry might sink the coalition deeper into crisis. “It has been resolved,” he said when asked where the controversy was taking the coalition partners. Due to the differences over the Education Ministry between the two parties the cabinet of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has not yet been able to take oath. “The ministers are likely to take oath either on Monday or Tuesday,” Shaukat Yousafzai, who was a career journalist before starting active politics from the PTI platform, said. iqbal khattak

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Tiger Awan]

Provincial govt can do that ???

 

[zakriaarshad]

If done so.... Really good move..... Army has been consistently asking Civil administration to behold the control of cleaned area.... While our visionary politicians of prior govt. could not find any such way out...... If PTI take the confidence..... And brings peace into these areas... Will pay "alms" on that day to thank Almighty

 

[Leader]

Provincial govt can do that ???

Yes when army is called to aid the provincial government as in this case, it can terminate the services too...

@nuclearpak any guess why would a awami govt do this? the only reason is because the military presence was a great nuisance for the locals and they were fed up of military presence and unnecessary quarrels.

@Pukhtoon @AstanoshKhan bhai this !!

withdrawing army from civilian areas is the need of the hour.

 

[Spring Onion]

Yes when army is called to aid the provincial government as in this case, it can terminate the services too...

@nuclearpak any guess why would a awami govt do this? the only reason is because the military presence was a great nuisance for the locals and they were fed up of military presence and unnecessary quarrels.

@Pukhtoon @AstanoshKhan bhai this !!

Swat people were feeling more comfortable having army there as it had brought back peace to an extent that we had seen music galas there recently.

anyway its bit peaceful so may be thats why but we must be careful to the return of the terrorists who are under patronage of Afghanistan the famouse mulla of Swat .They are still hosted by Afghanistan and they refused to hand them over to us.

They will try to use them again.

 

[asad71]

Provincial govt can do that ???

Yep, that's odd. The correct procedure would be for them to advise the Federal Govt to recall the army. It can't be because the provincial govt is new / inexperienced because the bureaucrats know the system. However, it is possible the KP govt finds it necessary to show it is asserting itself.

 

[Leader]

Yep, that's odd. The correct procedure would be for them to advise the Federal Govt to recall the army. It can't be because the provincial govt is new / inexperienced because the bureaucrats know the system. However, it is possible the KP govt finds it necessary to show it is asserting itself.

wasnt it called in to aid the provincial govt by the provincial govt itself ?

Swat people were feeling more comfortable having army there as it had brought back peace to an extent that we had seen music galas there recently.

anyway its bit peaceful so may be thats why but we must be careful to the return of the terrorists who are under patronage of Afghanistan the famouse mulla of Swat .They are still hosted by Afghanistan and they refused to hand them over to us.

They will try to use them again.

yes that is true when Army liberated the area from talibans, but later the army presence itself was troublesome for the locals. many issues arose.

however, the intelligence presence should remain there so to monitor any terrorist activity, unlike previous times when mullah radio kept airing without an check.

 

[Spring Onion]

wasnt it called in to aid the provincial govt by the provincial govt itself ?



yes that is true when Army liberated the area from talibans, but later the army presence itself was troublesome for the locals. many issues arose.

however, the intelligence presence should remain there so to monitor any terrorist activity, unlike previous times when mullah radio kept airing without an check.

i am for more prem cantonment in northern areas and FATA

 

[Tiger Awan]

Yes when army is called to aid the provincial government as in this case, it can terminate the services too...

@nuclearpak any guess why would a awami govt do this? the only reason is because the military presence was a great nuisance for the locals and they were fed up of military presence and unnecessary quarrels.

@Pukhtoon @AstanoshKhan bhai this !!

withdrawing army from civilian areas is the need of the hour.

dont know about it, but if it is the case and ppl want them out then go for it

Army's job is over. Its up to politician to ensure peace.

 

[AstanoshKhan]

I think the decision was taken last week in the meeting below.

@Tiger Awan,

Army was called in by Provincial Govt. and since peace has prevailed, Provincial Govt. is asking Army to leave.

 

[Jango]

@nuclearpak any guess why would a awami govt do this? the only reason is because the military presence was a great nuisance for the locals and they were fed up of military presence and unnecessary quarrels.

You aren't getting the whole picture are you?

The problem with the PPP/ANP government was that they didn't want to do anything. After the Swat op, Bajaur, SW and many others, the federal and provincial government told the Army to do the rehab themselves. There are 3 phases, attack, hold and consolidate and final is rehabilitation...the first 2 things i.e attack and hold is donw by Army, rehab is done by civil government.

The civil government previously (PPP/ANP) told the Army to do it...so the Army had to stay there. They built roads, shops, houses, solar panels, bridges, other facilities. The people of Swat greatly appreciated it.

Now when the PTI government has come, they want to take the mantle and do the rehab themselves instead of lease this to the Army.

Now you understand the whole picture?

It has got all to do with the government doing it's job rather than locals being fed up.

 

[Safriz]

Lets see if its a good decision or bad decision....only time will tell.

 

[Leader]

You aren't getting the whole picture are you?

The problem with the PPP/ANP government was that they didn't want to do anything. After the Swat op, Bajaur, SW and many others, the federal and provincial government told the Army to do the rehab themselves. There are 3 phases, attack, hold and consolidate and final is rehabilitation...the first 2 things i.e attack and hold is donw by Army, rehab is done by civil government.

The civil government previously (PPP/ANP) told the Army to do it...so the Army had to stay there. They built roads, shops, houses, solar panels, bridges, other facilities. The people of Swat greatly appreciated it.

Now when the PTI government has come, they want to take the mantle and do the rehab themselves instead of lease this to the Army.

Now you understand the whole picture?

It has got all to do with the government doing it's job rather than locals being fed up.

its a popular demand in Swat, probably the PTI leaders did promise pull out of army from civilian facilities and now acting so..

 

[Tiger Awan]

I think the decision was taken last week in the meeting below.

@Tiger Awan,

Army was called in by Provincial Govt. and since peace has prevailed, Provincial Govt. is asking Army to leave.

Army is 3 years late. Khair good decision

 

[Leader]

i am for more prem cantonment in northern areas and FATA

well then make it at undeveloped areas, far away from civlian facilities, and not occupying locals' land.