PESHAWAR, Sept 22: Elders of the seven tribal agencies of Fata called upon the government here the other day to take the tribesmen into confidence before extending the devolution plan to the region.

They said people of the region would oppose any move aimed at plan’s unilateral extension to the tribal areas without seekig their consent and suggestions.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Mian Shahjehan and Hidayat Ullah complained that the devolution plan was being imposed in the region without consulting them.

The elders also said they had their own centuries-old culture and traditions, and they were proud of it and wanted to remain under the same set-up left to them by their forefathers.

Opposing the establishment of police stations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), they said: “We have our own traditions to settle disputes and tribal Jirga is the only solution to their amicable settlement.”

They said the law and order situation in the region was far better than settled areas of the country.—APP