October 23, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1429

GHALANAI, Oct 22: A jirga of Shinwari tribe has decided not to cultivate poppy crop in its areas during the upcoming season this year.

The jirga met in Lakaro tehsil of Upper Mohmand on Wednesday. Sponsored by political administration the jirga was attended by more than twenty five elders of the Shinwari tribe.

Political Tehsildar Zabit Khan told Dawn that Shinwari tribe had decided to voluntarily stop cultivating poppy in its territory. The jirga, he said, also decided to support the political authorities in destroying the crop if any of the Shinwari tribesmen cultivated it.

The political tehsildar said that other tribes including Safi, Qandahari and Gurbaz tribes would also follow Shinwari tribesmen to eliminate poppy from the tribal area. — Correspondent