September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

CHARSADDA, Sept 3: A jirga held to devise a strategy against growing militancy in tribal areas and parts of the Frontier province ended without any consensus and clear-cut plan to curb the menace.

The jirga held at the office of the DPO on Wednesday was attended by provincial Law Minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah, District Nazim Sajid Khan, DPO Waqif Khan, SP (investigation) Mohammad Riaz, Charsadda Tehsil Nazim Mian Manzoor Bacha, Shabqadar Tehsil Nazim Ashfaq Khan, Naib Nazim Akhtar Gul, DSPs Mukhtiar Khan, Haroon Babar, Bahadar Khan and Nisar Khan, union council nazims, councillors and social and political figures.

Speaking at the jirga, the law minister stressed unity among people to quell terrorism and extremism in the country. He said peace committees had been set up in almost all districts of the province.

Other speakers said militancy had started spreading from tribal areas to settled areas and there was a need for timely steps to control it.

They suggested that committees at the local level should be formed to check the movement of militants. They promised all-out cooperation to such committees.

The provincial minister welcomed the holding of such jirgas in different districts of the province, saying these steps would convey a message to militants and the whole world that the people of the province could defend their interests with bravery.

The participants did not agree with a suggestion of the DPO for making an armed Lashkar against militants and criminals. Union Council Nazin Illahi Jan rejected the proposal, saying local people should not be indulged in the “war of other people”.

He said it was the duty of the government to provide security to the masses.—Correspondent