June 13, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1428

PESHAWAR, June 12: Expressing concern over lawlessness and terrorist activities in the tribal and settled areas, the Fata Agency Councillors’ Alliance has expressed the hope that the grand tribal jirga being held on June 14 will prove to be a milestone in restoring peace and security.

The councillors’ alliance’s information secretary Hashim Khan Afridi said at a press conference on Tuesday that the jirga being organised by the Grand Fata Alliance was the first step towards identification of the problems of the tribesmen and their solution. He offered full support for the jirga.

He said both the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the NWFP were in the grip of lawlessness and they were passing through an uncertain situation.

He said the alliance would ensure the participation of the 476 agency councillors in the jirga, which would also be attended by other representatives from all parts of the tribal region.

Other agency councillors were also present on this occasion.

They said: “We want to show the world through the jirga that the tribesmen have never been terrorists.”

They said they would appeal to the people of the world during the jirga to help them in the initiative against the ‘conspiracy’ hatched against them.

They said they would launch a struggle for the rights of the tribesmen by forming a Fata council comprising representatives of all sects and elders during the jirga.