Punjab's mountainous tribal region where no law prevails
In these areas, constitutional laws are not followed and decisions are made through a tribal system.
DERA GHAZI KHAN (Daily Dunya) - Tribal and bordering areas of Dera Ghazi Khan have transformed into safe sanctuaries for wanted criminals and miscreants; hence, the said areas are posing a great challenge to law enforcement agencies in targeted operations. These areas border Balochistan’s arduous mountainous region where lives a small population at very low densities having rare means of transportation and communication.
In such hard circumstances, law enforcement agencies are bound to take aerial support for their ground operations. Choti Zaireen (Lower Peak in English), where an offense was launched yesterday, is area with relatively big population. The area is famous for being hometown to the giant and influential political Leghari family.
To the east of Basti Bandwani and Dadawan lies national highway N-55 and to west lies national highway N-70. But to south and south-east of said areas exists austere hill areas. From here, a way leads toward Choti Bala which is then followed by Sulaiman Mountains to Punjab’s tribal areas.
In these areas, constitutional laws are not followed rather decisions are being made through a tribal system. With no writ of state, these areas provide safe havens to miscreants and wanted criminals. The army has focused these areas in ongoing offense Operation Radd-ul-Fassad aimed at obliterating terrorists’ sanctuaries and to remove perception of “no-go areas” in Punjab. Above mentioned areas were under stern monitoring of security agencies and yesterday’s onslaught was launched on reliable tip off.
Criminal elements residing in these areas are acting as facilitators for wanted terrorists. Similarly, abductees are brought here for ransom. Analysts believe that operation may be widen to inner areas of Sulaiman Mountains and to the border areas of Balochistan, but it would remain a targeted offensive.
This article was published in Roznama Pakistan.
