WANA: The decision to grant officials of the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) the authority to check attendance and conduct surprise raids on officers and staff of the district administration has irked government employees in Upper South Waziristan.
According to local government officials and tribal elders, the policy has not only affected the morale of the district administration but has also undermined its traditional authority and influence.
Upper South Waziristan is a sensitive district with strong tribal traditions, where the authority and influence of the district administration play a key role in maintaining peace.Local elders said that in the past, when the political agent system existed in the tribal areas, the agents who had stronger authority and influence were more successful in maintaining law and order.
They believed when a political agent’s influence weakened, criminal elements became active and, in some cases, government officials were even kidnapped and kept in captivity for months.
The elders recalled that there were incidents in the past when government officers were abducted and heavy ransom had to be paid for their release.They said that when the administration was strong, even bandits and kidnappers remained inactive. Therefore, they stressed that Upper South Waziristan district administration must be given greater authority.
Local sources alleged that IMU officials of the health department often do not reside permanently in Upper South Waziristan and spend most of their time in Dera Ismail Khan, visiting the district only once a month.
Tribal elders from the Mehsud and Burki tribes of Upper South Waziristan urged the provincial government to review the powers granted to the IMU.They appealed to the chief minister, the provincial health minister, the chief secretary, the additional chief secretary, the provincial health secretary, and other relevant officials to withdraw the authority of IMU officials to conduct raids in Upper South Waziristan.
