April 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1428

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PESHAWAR, April 16: Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr met here under the chairmanship of Maulana Samiul Haq to discuss the situation arising from the recent sectarian clashes in Kurram Agency.

The committee discussed in detail the factors responsible for the sectarian bloodshed and analyzed several measures for the improvement of the situation and durable peace in the area.

The standing committee expressed deep sorrow over the bloodshed and enquired the officials about the motives behind the conflict.

The officials informed the committee that the basic reason for the worsening of the situation was the violation of the peace agreements concluded between the rival factions in the past, most recently in 2005.

They ensured the committee that all possible measures were taken to avert the bloody clashes despite an acute shortage of resources.

The committee was told that flash floods had caused havoc in the area just a day before the clashes erupted and that complicated the situation further for the political administration and the law-enforcement agencies who were supposed to enforce law and order during the Rabbiul Awwal processions.

But now the situation is improving due to the joint efforts of the members of the peace committee of the parliament, local elders and the political administration.

The committee was informed that a ceasefire had been achieved and hopefully a tribal jirga comprising local elders will pinpoint the culprits and penalize them according to tribal traditions.

The standing committee suggested that the amount of forces deployed in the area must be suitable enough according to the sensitivity of the situation so that the writ of the government could be enforced.

Members of the committee Senators Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, Abbas Komaili, Abdur Rashid and Ms Kulsoom were also present in the meeting, which was also attended by senior officials of Federal and Provincial Governments.