HANGU, July 5: A reconciliatory jirga, constituted last year after sectarian killings here on the occasion of Nauroz festival, has made public its recommendations on Thursday.

The jirga has requested the government to resolve the outstanding issue between both the sects about celebrating the festival of Nauroz in the district.

The jirga claimed that deciding that issue was not in their terms of reference, therefore they were not empowered to give any findings over it.

Without fixing responsibility on any of the two sects of initiating the violence, which started on March 1 last year, the ten-member jirga has recommended that for proving their innocence fifty members each from both the sects should take oath.

The jirga added that members of the sect who decline to take oath should pay a penalty of Rs2.2 million. Moreover, the members for taking oath would be selected in accordance with the traditions of the area. The members from Shia sect will be selected by the Sunni sect and vice versa. In case of aggression by any of the sect in future, that party would be bound to pay a fine of Rs10 million to the government.

The jirga read out the recommendations to the 8-member committees of both the sects. Both the sects would inform the government about their decision — whether they accept the findings of the jirga or not.

It is recommended for the sake of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the area both the sects could exempt each other from taking oath and in that case they should be absolved of paying the fine levied against them.

The members claimed that those affectees who were not included in the lists for payment of compensations should also be paid compensation subject to approval by the government. In case both the sects accept findings of the jirga and a decision is made then both the parties would withdraw the criminal cases registered against each other.

According to the proposals of the jirga the district coordination officer, Hangu, would be empowered to interpret the findings of the jirga or imposition of fine in case of any future incident.