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| 06 April 2004 | Tuesday | 15 Safar 1425 |
Tribesmen given new deadline: Elders convene jirga today
PESHAWAR, April 5: Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has given 15 days to tribesmen of the North and South Waziristan regions to present to the government a formula for peacefully resolving the issue of foreign militants in their areas.
"Consult each other and let us know how we can resolve the issue of foreign militants without resorting to force," Governor Iftikhar told a jirga of tribal elders from the North and South Waziristan tribal regions here on Monday.
The deadline given to the tribesmen expires on April 20. An official press statement issued at the end of the meeting did not say if the government would conduct any military action against foreign militants during the 15 days to the deadline.
But when the governor was asked this question, he categorically said: "No." The official statement said the governor asked the tribesmen from the two regions to come out with a sound and workable political settlement of the issue of foreign elements, saying that it warranted early action and any delay would aggravate the situation.
"We want to deal with the issue in accordance with the tribal traditions of mutual consultation and understanding", he added. The governor maintained that if Utmanzai and Ahmadzai Wazirs emulated the Mehsuds by denying sanctuaries to foreign militants, the issue could be resolved smoothly.
He stressed that foreign terrorists would no longer be allowed to use Pakistani soil under any circumstances.He said the government had never intended to use force to resolve the issue.
"We honour tribal traditions and believe in jirga and mutual consultations, which is the best system in the tribal area", he said. The governor said that if the tribal elders realized the gravity of the situation and strove with determination and sincerity, the issue could be resolved peacefully. He warned that the government would be at liberty to use other means at its disposal if they failed to produce positive results by the end of the ldeadline.
SAFE PASSAGE: The governor reiterated the government's offer of amnesty to the foreign elements, saying that those who would surrender and lay down their arms would not be handed over to any other country.
"If the foreign terrorists want to leave Pakistani territory then we are ready to provide safe passage to them," the governor was quoted as saying by AFP. Those foreigners who remained associated with the Afghan jihad and had settled thereafter in the tribal area with their families could also avail of the amnesty if tribes guaranteed their good conduct, the statement said.
"No one should doubt our sincere offer", the governor said. He acknowledged that certain foreign elements had been handed over to other countries in the past, but added, that it had been prior to the amnesty offer.
Without naming the Jamaat-i-Islami, the governor lashed out at what he called negative propaganda carried out by certain political and religious circles. Tribal elders from Utmanzai Wazir, Ahmadzai Wazir and Mehsud tribes of North and South Waziristan tribal regions attended the jirga.
MNAs Maulana Mirajuddin, Maulana Abdul Malik and Maulana Nek Zaman, besides former MNA Maulana Noor Mohammad, IGFC Maj-Gen Hamid Khan, Secretary to Governor Sahibzada SaeedAhmad, Secretary (Security) Brig Mehmood Shah and political agents of North and South Waziristan agencies also attended the jirga.
TRIBAL FORCE: A tribal force or 'lashkar' was formed on Monday by tribal elders of South Waziristan to press tribesman to surrender terrorist suspects, dpa reported.
A tribal jirga has been scheduled for Tuesday to press the Utmankhel tribesman to surrender to the assembly suspects harbouring alleged foreign and local terrorists, said Allah Noor, a local tribesman.
"It was decided that those who do not attend Tuesday's jirga will be fined Rs100,000. They have been asked to bring their arms with them and furnish information about the terrorists they are harbouring," Mr Noor said.
"Non-compliance will entail demolition of their houses and a fine of Rs500,000," Mr Noor said, adding that a tribal force comprising 3,000 locals would be formed for the purpose.
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