June 22, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1428

KHAAR (Bajaur Agency), June 21: The political administration and elders of the Mamond tribe here on Thursday decided to form a 50-member committee to maintain peace, stop display of weapons and curb anti-social activities in the agency.

The political administration had convened a jirga of tribal elders to discuss the law and order situation and develop a plan to maintain peace in the agency.

Nawagai sub-division’s assistant political agent Mohammad Jamil Khan sought the tribal elders’ cooperation in maintaining peace and curbing terrorism.

Expressing concern over the law and order situation, he said the tribal elders should abide by the peace deal they had signed with the government. Despite the peace deal, anti-social activities had increased and law and order deteriorated in the area, he said, adding that it was a violation of the peace agreement.

He sought the tribal elders’ help in stopping display of weapons and restricting movement of masked men in the agency.

He said the political administration wanted to take tribal elders along, but they had not been performing their responsibility very well.

Malak Abdul Aziz and Maulana Gul Sher Khan said they had been abiding by the peace deal, but some elements in the garb of local militants were disrupting peace of the agency.

They expressed disappointment over the administration’s inefficiency in identifying and arresting miscreants.

Abdul Aziz said peace in the area could not be maintained without cooperation and effective actions of the political administration, adding that tribal elders alone could not stop activities of local militants.

They said they would take action according to tribal traditions against display of weapons and movement of masked militants.

They formed a 50-member jirga to hold talks with local militants. The first round of talks will be held on Friday.