July 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 09, 1428

SWAT, July 24: A jirga of elected representatives and religious leaders on Tuesday opposed any military operation in the Gat Piyochar area of Matta tehsil, saying no training centre of militants existed in the area.

Sources said the jirga members were unanimous that they would take action if any terrorist training facility existed in the area.

They called upon the government to resolve the issue through negotiations.

The jirga said the people of Matta tehsil were law-abiding and patriotic citizens and they had never been involved in terrorist activities.

Matta Tehsil Nazim Abdul Jabbar Khan, TNSM leader Maulana Safiullah and elite of the area attended the jirga.

Maulana Safi said that they were peace-loving people and rejected any sort of military operation in the area.

He said the government should point out any terrorist training centre in the area and the people would themselves dismantle it.

Meanwhile, DCO Syed Mohammad Javed told Dawn that the administration was making efforts to restore peace in Swat.

He said the security forces had come to the area to restore peace.

He urged the people to remain vigilant and keep an eye on activities of anti-social and criminal elements in the district.