KOHAT, Oct 22: The Mamozai tribe of Orakzai Agency, which was given a deadline for taking action against militants in their stronghold, has sought more time and preferred to resolve the issue through holding negotiations with them.

Soon after the October 10 suicide blast at a jirga in Orakzai Agency all the 18 tribes had unanimously announced to fight militants and expel them from their soil.

But with passing of time differences started erupting between the tribes especially among the sub-clans who feared attacks by militants.

The earlier decision to form a lashkar had now been delayed indefinitely. Some of the tribal elders had been told by the Taliban that they were not involved in the suicide attack at the jirga and it was a conspiracy to create differences among them. So far nobody had claimed the responsibility for carrying out the suicide attacks at jirga held in Orakzai Agency and Darra Adamkhel.

Now the Ali Khel tribe had appealed to the government to immediately compensate the victims of the October 10 suicide attack amidst reports that a large number of injured were not being provided proper medical aid.

Officials said that Mamozai tribal elders were holding daily meetings with the political administration after the expiry of October 20 deadline given to them for expulsion of militants from their area.

They were discussing a joint strategy to ward off the threat of militancy for good in the meetings, which were being kept secret.

The tribal elders who met in their respective areas now changed the venue of their meetings following the October 10 suicide blast, which killed at least 136 tribesmen.

The negotiations and decisions reached with the administration and among the sub-clans were also not leaked out for their own safety. It has been learnt that the tribe has sought more time for action against militants.

Meanwhile, Hangu administration had beefed up security along the long and porous border of the district with the Orakzai Agency to stop infiltration of militants into the settled areas.

District Police Officer Sajjad Khan told journalists that they had arrested three militants along with their vehicle in which they were patrolling Hangu-Thall highway on Tuesday night.

It may be recalled that the militants were expelled from Hangu into Orakzai Agency in a military operation conducted last August in Doaba and five other villages of Hangu to open the road for general traffic.

Hangu police also arrested five suspicious persons from Punjab who were roaming in the bazaar on late Tuesday night. The arrested persons were being interrogated by a police team.