MIRAMSHAH, May 24: Government’s efforts to maintain the peace deal it has signed with militants in the restive North Waziristan Agency suffered a setback when 11 of the 15 members of the tribal peace committee resigned in protest against a recent military operation in Zargerkhel village.

Led by former senator Mateen Shah, members of the committee, formed after the signing of the September 2006 peace agreement, handed over their resignations to Political Agent Pirzada Khan Wazir on Wednesday evening. They alleged that by conducting the operation, the military authorities had violated the accord.

Those who resigned include MNA Maulvi Naik Zaman, Malik Nasrullah, Malik Qadir Khan, Malik Afzal Derbakhel, Malik Mumtaz, Malik Mamoor Khan, Malik Inayat Khan, Hafiz Noorullah Shah, Maulvi Gul Zaman and Malik Mohammad Alam.

However, a government official claimed that not all the members of the peace committee were in favour of resigning and those who announced this decision had done so under pressure from militants.

According to the official, militants had threatened some committee members who had accompanied military personnel to the area of operation to negotiate a peaceful surrender.

Four people were killed and two others wounded in the operation. Tribal leaders say that the victims were innocent people and belonged to North Waziristan Agency.