TIMERGARA: The Pakistan army Maidan battalion on Saturday handed over thefamous Islam Darra security check post to local police during a functionheld near the post. The commandant Maidan battalions Lt. Colonel YaseenAnjum, MPA Saeed Gul, Maidan tehsil nazim Bakhtiar Khan, DSP Fakhr e Alam,DSP Bakht Jamal and area elders were present on the occasion.

The Islam Darra check post was set up in May, 2009 when the Pakistan armytook control of the area. The TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad had changedthe name of this place from ‘Kufr Darra’ earlier in 2007 during a sit-instaged on this strategic location and road leading to Maidan.

Majority of check posts in Lower Dir had already been handed over to civiladministration. However, a few ones are still controlled and monitored bythe army mainly in upper parts of Maidan and Samar Bagh.

Addressing the gathering Lt. Colonel Yaseen said the army had been handingover the security check posts in the area gradually to the civilianadministration. He said that complete peace had been restored and militantshad been flushed out from the restive Maidan in Lower Dir.

He said the handing over of the post did not mean the army had nothingwith security in the region. He said the Pakistan army would remain alertbehind the police and would monitor the activities on the check post. Heasked the area elders to fully cooperate with civilian administration formaintaining peace and order.