... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
, particularly Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
, the provincial authorities have found police to be wilfully defying the government's directives to tackle the menace tactfully.
A confidential official note recently sent to provincial police chief Akbar Khan Hoti by the home and tribal affairs department stated: "Situation in Peshawar is rapidly deteriorating because of wilful disobedience of government directives by the police.
The current spate of murders and practical striking at will in the city by snuffies is a symptom of this no action."
The recent brazen attacks on heavily-guarded Judicial Complex, office of the political agent, Khyber Agency
in cantonment area and sporadic incidents of murders in the provincial metropolis have set alarm bells ringing for the relevant circles in the province.Two snuffies wearing boom jackets and armed with pistols entered Judicial Complex after passing through security barriers and walkthrough gates on March 18 that showed the level of alertness of the police force.
Four people were killed and 49 maimed in the attack. One bomber detonated boom jacket while another was hit by sharp shooter.
Sources said intelligence outfits had already passed on message to police about possible attack on the compound. Another boom-mobile destroyed Jalozai camp on Thursday claiming 17 lives while 28 others maimed.
Reports about activities of snuffies in several districts including Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi have surfaced while former information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain left serious message before dissolution of the government who warned that the situation could go from bad to worse.
The official note said confidential and reliable reports received from state agencies about linkages of some individuals with hard boy outfits were shared with coppers through relevant commissioners on regular basis.
It, however, added that instead of taking action and proper probe according to the source police in some cases had given a 'clean chit' to the suspects on the basis of opinion of local people and in most cases, no action was taken.