KHAR: Elders of different tribes in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies have vowed to support the government and security forces to eliminate militants from their areas.

Tribal elders from Khar, Mamond and Mandal tribes of Bajaur Agency said that they would continue support to the security forces and administration in thwarting militant activities. The elders made the pledge during a joint jirga attended by senior officials of the security forces and local administration at Bajaur Scouts Camp in Inayat Kallay on Sunday.

Tribal elders, leaders of peace committees from the tribes, Bajaur scouts commandant Col Mir Amir Ali, Col Naeem Akbar, assistant political agent Mohammad Fayyaz Khan Sherpao and other officials attended the jirga.

Speaking at the jirga, Bajaur scouts commandant said the security forces were committed to maintaining peace and writ of the government in the agency, as peace was essential to the sustainable development of the region. He said that the recent terrorism-related incidents in different areas showed that some miscreants were attempting to disrupt peace. However, he said that miscreants would never succeed in their nefarious designs.

He said that security forces had stepped up their efforts and soon the agency would cleared of miscreants.

Senior tribal elders and leaders of peace committees, including Malik Shah Mohammad, Malik Manjafar Khan, Malik Mohammad Zada, Anis Khan and others, said on the occasion that they would continue support to the security forces and administration to maintain normalcy in their areas. The elders of the jirga, however, demanded of the senior officials to withdraw the decision about the sealing of several houses of suspected people and give them a chance to surrender.

In Ghalanai, a jirga of Haleemzai tribe also decided to extend full support to the government and security forces to curb militancy in the area.

Addressing the jirga, the tribal elders from sub-tribes of Haleemzai resolved that they would fight against the militants who were depriving their children of education and destroying tribal customs and traditions.

Say no one will be allowed to destroy their culture, traditions

Those who spoke at the jirga included Malik Mohammad Ali Haleemzai, Malik Amir Nawaz, Malik Sahib Dad and others. They decided that strict action would be taken against those tribesmen who were found sheltering anti-state elements.

They urged the tribal elders to safeguard schools and hospitals in their areas against militant attacks. On this occasion, they demanded of the government to reopen the Pak-Afghan route for trade in the area. The tribesmen said that the route had been closed for the last five years due to which business in all bazaars of the agency was badly affected.

In Landi Kotal, a jirga of Bar Qamberkhel elders on Sunday assured the administration of its full support in curbing activities of anti-state elements. 

At the same time, Khyber Agency political administration demanded of the tribal elders to hand over all heavy weapons and 10 wanted men till Feb 10. Addressing the jirga at Khyber House, political agent Shahab Ali Shah urged them to impose an effective ban on aerial firing and start registration of weapons with the assistant political agent.

He also asked the jirga to furnish details of the weapons the Bar Qamberkhel tribe provided to the defunct outfit ‘Amr Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anil Munkar’.

Published in Dawn January 26th , 2015

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