Pakistan Taliban running ‘shadow rule’ in North Waziristan, warns govt contractors of armed action for disobeying orders

In a concerning development, the Pakistan Taliban, operating under the formal appellation of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has successfully established a shadow rule in various parts of the volatile northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, according to a report. The militant group is now directing local officials and contractors to “consult and cooperate” with its clandestine administrative apparatus, reported Times of India. According to the report, KP Governor Ghulam Ali expressed his apprehensions regarding the region’s security in a televised interview on Saturday. He said the current situation is “unfavourable for political parties to hold rallies in the province,” especially with the general elections scheduled for 8 February. The governor drew parallels with the restive Balochistan province in the southwest, noting that a similar precarious situation persists there, added the report. The TTP recently issued directives to contractors associated with the government’s water, power, and oil departments in North Waziristan, informing them about the establishment of a “ministry of economic affairs” by the group. Contractors were instructed to engage with the new ministry and come to an agreement on projects within a five-day timeframe. The TTP warned of armed action in case of non-compliance. The purported aim of the new ministry is to raise funds for the group’s “pious jihad” and enhance the administrative setup in the areas under its influence. According to the ToI report, insiders reveal that the TTP has established covert departments in every tribal district along the Afghan border, as well as in KP’s southern districts of Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, and Bannu. These clandestine units reportedly engage in blackmailing businessmen and affluent individuals, in addition to handling the resolution of disputes among locals. Faced with perceived shortcomings in both the legal system and local government, individuals are increasingly turning to the TTP’s “justice ministry” to address their grievances. The situation raises serious concerns about the erosion of governance in the affected regions. Authorities are closely monitoring the evolving scenario, especially with the upcoming elections on the horizon, added the report. With inputs from agencies