LANDI KOTAL: The elders of Kukikhel tribe have accused the government of Afghanistan of harbouring anti-Pakistan elements, who are involved in creating unrest and lawlessness in the tribal belt.

A jirga of tribal elders under the patronage of political administration was held at the Jirga Hall in Jamrud on Monday that was attended by representatives of different sub-tribes of Kukikhel.

Addressing the jirga, Malak Faizullah Jan alleged that Afghan government was also offering jobs in army and police force alongside other incentives to the educated tribal youth to use them against their own country.

“We strongly reject all such false and deceitful offers from the Afghan government as we believe that the present Afghan government is totally dependent on foreign assistance and can’t sustain by its own, he added. Malak Faizullah Jan alleged that Afghan government provided facilities to Indian and Israel secret agencies to operate in Afghanistan and conspire against Pakistan.

The jirga resolved to excommunicate all those among them who had any ideological and political affiliation with the present Afghan government. It threatened to impose a fine of Rs500,000, expel them from the area and burn the houses of those tribesmen, who had any secret contacts or relations with the Afghan government.

The jirga demanded of the political administration to expel all unregistered Afghans from Jamrud and also initiate an inquiry in issuance of fake computerised national identity cards to them.

The administration should also book those tribal elders, who were guilty of verifying fake documents of Afghans, the jirga said, adding privileges of such tribal elders should be suspended.

Also see: Berlin urges Kabul to support Zarb-i-Azb

Meanwhile, the khasadars arrested on Monday an alleged kidnapper after he was injured in a shootout with the two persons, whom he was trying to kidnap.

Officials said that Asif and Faheem, who had come to Jamrud from Peshawar, were intercepted by a group of kidnappers when they were going back.

They resisted and exchanged fire with the kidnappers, they said. They added a kidnapper identified as Umar Nawaz was injured in the shootout. He was taken into custody in injured condition.

Also in Jamrud, security forces defused an explosive device planted along the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway near Sur Kamar.

LOADSHEDDING: Hundreds of football enthusiasts in Khyber Agency missed the ongoing football world cup played in Brazil owing to excessive loadshedding of electricity.

The local people said that contrary to official promises of curtailing loadshedding in the month of Ramazan, they were subjected to almost 20 hours power daily.

They said that loadshedding affected their routine life besides depriving them of watching the football world cup.

Football fans in Landi Kotal and Jamrud said they had to go Peshawar or arrange power generators to watch their favourite teams and players in action.

Some of them have arranged for solar panels and hired digital receivers at common places to enjoy the football matches in Brazil.

Published in Dawn, July 8th , 2014