12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, July 11: Tribesmen are defenders of the country's ideological and geographical frontiers and played a significant role in the liberation of Kashmir, says the Jamaat-i-Islami's naib amir for the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas.

MNA Haroon Rashid, the JI's Fata naib amir, was speaking to a tribal jirga held in the Mohmand Agency on Sunday. Accusing President Gen Musharraf of terrorizing tribesmen at the behest of America, he said: "Tribesmen not only took part in the liberation of Kashmir but also defended the country's 2,500- kilometre long western border during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan."

He said peace and security in the tribal areas was dependent on the observance of tribal customs and traditions. Mr Rashid called for abolishing the FCR besides enforcing the Shariat in the tribal area. Rejecting the nominated Fata councils, he termed them a part of American agenda. -PPI