BAJAUR: Tribal elders on Tuesday asked the police department to take back the decision of withdrawing police guards from them.

Talking to reporters at the Bajaur Press Club in Khar after a meeting, leaders of Etihad-i-Malakanan Bajaur, an association of tribal elders, said the decision had perturbed them.

EldersMalikMohammad Shah, Malik Bahadar Shah, Malik Nasar Khan and Malik Hifzur Khan said that the police department had decided to withdraw personnel from them.

The elders, who were also accompanied by Khar tehsil council chairman and JUI-F leader Haji Said Badshah, said the elders had rendered matchless sacrifices for restoration of peace in the district, and they were provided with the police security in recognition of their efforts.

The elders asked the authorities to first withdraw security from those officials, who had been transferred out of the district, but were still enjoying police security.

They also expressed concerns over the poor law and order situation in the district, especially targeted killings. They asked the authorities to take concrete steps for improving the law and order situation. They said that they were willing to continue their support to the authorities in restoration of durable peace in the region.

Moreover, the elders said they would continue their efforts against the `illegal and forcible` merger of former Fata into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The elders also rejected the federal government`s proposed plan of imposing taxes in the former Fata and Malakand division.

Meanwhile, sources in the police department told Dawn on Tuesday that their high-ups had decided to withdraw security from elders and other influential people to overcome the shortage of policemen in the district.

The sources said that the personnel deployed for security of these people had been asked to report to the police lines within a week.