04 April 2004	Sunday	13 Safar 1425

LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), April 3: The Khyber Union, a political organization of Khyber Agency, has demanded of the government to give decision-making powers to tribal jirgas in the proposed reforms to be carried out in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

In a meeting of Afridi elders held in Bara on Friday, the KU resolved to resist any move that violated the tribal customs and traditions while implementing the reforms in the tribal areas.

The meeting welcomed the suspension of Wana operation, and appreciated the government move to resolve the issue according to tribal traditions.

The Afridi elders also resolved to bridge the gulf between tribesmen and the government in the aftermath of the bloody operation in South Waziristan.

The jirga, however, took exception to President Pervez Musharraf's remarks that a special police force would be deployed in Fata for the maintenance of law and order. Any such move, the jirga members remarked, would create anarchy in the area as it was against their customs and traditions.

The jirga unanimously demanded of the federal government to immediately announce the date for holding of local bodies elections in the tribal areas.