PESHAWAR, March 8: A representative jirga of North Waziristan Agency comprising 12 prominent elders called on the NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman here on Tuesday evening and discussed with him the volatile situation in the agency, particularly the ongoing standoff between the law-enforcement personnel and militants.

The elders expressed concern over the prevailing tension and lawlessness in the tribal agency and said that the traditional jirga should be given the opportunity to play its role in the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the troubled region.

They said that the people of North Waziristan Agency were loyal to the government and the country and were against the ongoing subversive activities, which in fact had been created by certain miscreants with the connivance of foreign elements.

However, they were of the opinion that tribal customs and traditions and the traditional jirga were capable not only of improving the situation but also in dealing effectively with the miscreants.

Talking to the jirga, the governor said that the government had always had high regard for tribal customs and traditions but would never be lenient towards troublemakers and miscreants.

The government, he added, wanted to help the jirga to play its role and urged the elders to continue their efforts to restore peace in their area.