NWFP Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir has said that Maulana Fazlullah-led militants attacked a contingent of paramilitary forces near the Fizagat area at around 11:45 am on Friday, using heavy weapons and rocket launchers, and that security forces retaliated the attack. Addressing a press conference, he said the crossfire continued till evening, adding that when the militants stopped firing the security forces also stopped firing.He said the government was trying to resolve the Swat issue peacefully, which was why the government didn’t retaliate to Thursday’s suicide attack, in which a suicide attacker rammed his explosives-laden car into an FC officials’ vehicle killing 20 people and injuring around 34. He said two civilians died near Fizagat owing to the militants’ firing and that some non-locals belonging to FATA and other areas were also present in Swat and “there is a possibility of foreigners’ presence in the district.”
He said the Fazlullah-led Shaheen Force comprised 300-400 persons and the cleric had around 4,600 supporters in 59 villages. He said arms to the district might have come from Bajaur Agency through Dir district that shares border with Swat. He said the operation was not on the mandate of the security forces, which were deployed there to establish the state writ and to curb militant activity.
He said gunship helicopters were meant to support the ground forces and they flew towards the district to protect the troops. He said that if the situation got out of control then the army might also be called to restore law and order. He said in today’s clashes there were no causalities from the security forces and “we have no such reports from the Imam Dheri.”
He said Fazlullah wanted to establish a parallel government in the area and set up courts while his men flogged and killed people. “There is no plan to release Sufi Mohammad imprisoned in the Dera Ismail Khan Prison, or to use him as an intermediary.”