LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Malakdinkhel tribe of Bara have pledged to extend full support to security forces and expel all suspected people from their area.

The decision was made in a jirga, which was attended by Malakdinkhel elders including Malak Duran Gul, Malak Amal Gul, Malak Daud, Haji Mughal Baz, Malak Subbat Khan and Abdul Wahid.

The jirga resolved to deal with iron hand with those people, who were providing shelter to militants in the area or facilitating suspects. `At present Malakdinkhel region is cleared of all anti-state elements and no one will be allowed to harbour such elements at present or in the future,` the jirga resolved unanimously, The jirga announced its full support to the ongoing military operation in Khyber Agency and pledged that tribal people would not hesitate to render sacriñces for the security of their region.

The jirga decided to hand over any suspect found in the area to securityforces or political administration.

It decided to torch the house of the facilitator of militants besides imposing a fine of Rs1 million on him.

The jirga decided to apprise both security officials in Bara and political administration about its decisions and would ensure that the entire tribe abided by those decisions.

Meanwhile, the political administration demolished dozens of shops and kiosks established illegally on roadsides at Jamrud Bazaar.

The administration had earlier served notices on all the shopkeepers to voluntarily remove their illegal structures within 48 hours. The administration also removed all the illegal taxi stands from the main bazaar. Officials said that action against illegal structures and taxi stands was initiated after receiving complaints from people.

Local tribesmen alleged that some of the pro-administration tribal elders were patronising the owners of illegal shops and taxi stands by accepting huge monthly amount from them. Correspondent