SWAT: Malakand division DIG Abdul Ghafoor Khan Afridi claimed on Tuesday that the police were completely free from political interference.

He was addressing an open kutcheri held at the Matta sports ground here.

District police officer Zahid Nawaz Marwat, members of the dispute resolution committees and elders of the area were also in attendance.

Mr Afridi said the police`s duty was to protect the lives andproperdesofpeopleand to ensure a peaceful and prosperous society. `Peace is essential for development, so the police and other law enforcement agencies should work together to curb crimes, especially drug smuggling,` he said.

`It is the responsibility of both the police and the people to maintain peace in the area and rid the society of drug trade,` he said.

Mr Afridi showed concern about the increasing incidence of motorcycle accidents and asked parents not to allow their underage children to ride bicycles. He said the police had started a campaign to discourage underage bike driving, and sought parents` cooperation in that regard. Correspondent