News Desk |
On April 10, 2018, Pakistan’s military authorities transferred the control to civil administration after 10 years in Lower and Upper Dir districts at a function held in this regard at the Dir Scouts Fort in Balambat. General Officer Commanding (GOC) Malakand, Maj Gen Ali Aamir Awan, was the chief guest on the event.
Prominent civil and military officials were also present to grace the occasion. While speaking on the event, the chief guest stated that police would now cater to the law and order in the district and that army would be deployed to border areas in addition to providing backup to police if need arises.
The GOC lauded the sacrifices of locals, police and military in bringing peace in the region which was once a hub of extremist TTP militants who have now been flushed out of the area. Maj Gen Awan iterated that almost 500 Army personnel including officers sacrificed their lives to restore peace in Dir and that the Army will leave no stone unturned to fight militancy in the region.
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He added that 300 schools in Malakand division were rehabilitated, while 32 new schools were built. The police and Levies forces were imparted capacity building trainings and they were made capable to cope with any untoward situation.
The locals have lauded this decision and have welcomed the restoration of peace in the area. KPK government officials also praised the efforts of the military and expressed their desire to work closely with it to restore the writ of the state in Dir and adjacent regions.