MANSEHRA: The tension between tribesmen from Kohistan and those from Chilas has eased over the disputed territory of Harban located on the border of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan as the two sides showed willingness to settle the dispute peacefully through a jirga led by former Kohistan MNA Mehboobullah Jan.

Deputy inspector general of police, Hazara range Akhtar Hayyat Khan Gandapur appreciated the jirga for making efforts to defuse the tension.

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He, however, said the control of disputed territory would stay with the Frontier Constabulary and Rangers until the matter was settled by a commission formed by the federal government.

The jirga met elders from Harban Bhasha in Kohistan and from Thor in Chilas to defuse the tension.

In February this year, five people were killed when Harban and Thor tribesmen exchanged fire over the territory to which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan governments lay a claim. Tension has been prevailing in the area since then.

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Last month, a 12-member jirga led by former MNA Mehboobullah Jan had begun efforts to persuade both tribes to settle the dispute by dialogue.

The administration and police of Kohistan reportedly support dialogue.

Kohistan, Chilas tribesmen agree to resolve dispute by dialogue

Mehboobullah Jan told reporters that tribesmen from Kohistan and Chilas had empowered the jirga, which would pronounce final decision on the matter after holding two jirgas, one in Kohistan and the other in Dasu, where elders of the two sides and representatives of the administrations of two regions would be in attendance.

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The people of Kohistan had blocked the Karakoram Highway late last year for one week after the Gilgit-Baltistan government established a checkpost in the disputed territory in Harban. The post was later dismantled by the government and personnel of Frontier Constabulary and that Rangers took the charge of the disputed territory.

DIG Hazara Range Akhtar Hayyat Khan Gandapur said last month, the federal government had formed a commission to settle the dispute between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan government.

“We will facilitate the jirga to ensure restoration of peace in the disputed territory so that the commission could complete its task in a friendly environment,” he said.

Gandapur said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was striving to maintain law and order on its side of the disputed territory, Kohistan.

He said he thought the jirga could settle the issue peacefully.

CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL: Deputy commissioner of Mansehra Ikramullah Khan has said the Consumer Protection Council will be revitalised through campaigns against quacks, unregistered clinics chemists selling spurious drugs.

He said this during the first meeting of the council here.

Ikramullah asked members and chairman of the council to be more vigilant to check sale of unhygienic food items.

“I’ve learnt that some so-called factories are making cooking oil from offal and animal remains,” he said.

LAPTOPS GIVEN: PML-N secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Friday distributed 1,225 free laptops with internet a broadband dongle to high achievers of the Hazara University under a prime minister’s scheme.

Addressing the ceremony at Hazara University here, Jhagra said the government had initiated a number of schemes to equip the country’s youths with modern education and skills.

He said under the scheme, 100,000 laptops would be distributed to youths of the country over the next four years.

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014