LAKKI MARWAT: Differences cropped up among the local elders and leaders of different political parties over formation of Marwat Qaumi Jirga, a body of Marwat tribe constituted to ensure peace and development in the district.

The differences came to surface during a meeting held at the residence of former city nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel here on Monday. The meeting, apparently convened to devise a strategy for the upcoming local bodies polls, turned into a heated debate session.

Former federal minister Salim Saifullah Khan, who also attended the meeting, said that Marwat Qaumi Jirga in its present form was not acceptable to the elders of different clans. “Only the elders and religious leaders affiliated with JUI-F have representation in the grand body,” he added.

He said that elders of other sub-tribes and office-bearers of political and religious parties were not given any representation in the jirga. “With representation of all religious and political parties as well as elders of different clans, the jirga will work effectively for peace and prosperity of the area,” he added.

Salim Saifullah threatens to constitute parallel body

The former minister said that they would have no option but to form a parallel body if their suggestions were not taken into consideration. However, an elder criticised Mr Saifullah for his remarks about the jirga.

“The influential Saifullahs and elders of prominent Tore and Speen Gunds had representation in the Jirga when it was formed for the first time with former provincial minister Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat (late) as its head few years ago,” said Advocate Fareedullah Khan, former nazim of Lakki tehsil.

He said that Saifullah brothers should not raise fingers on the formation of jirga because they did not bother to attend its meeting during the last couple of years. “Don’t make accusations when you people have no time to attend the important meetings of Marwat Qaumi Jirga,” he told Salim Saifullah.

 Some speakers said that the jirga had been constituted to safeguard the collective interests of Marwat tribe and back law enforcement agencies to eliminate militancy and restore peace in the region. “But now it has become a puppet in the hands of elders and political elite affiliated with JUI-F,” they said.

The speakers said that such formation of the jirga was not acceptable to them. Akram Khan, a former union council nazim, said that all clans should have equal representation in the jirga. He said that the body was not up to the standard and satisfaction of entire Marwat tribe.

Haji Azizullah Khan, a leader of Jamaat-i-Islami, said that the elders of Speen Gund joined JUI-F and used the platform of jirga for its interests. He said that JI had no representation in the jirga and that there was dire need to unite elders and political and religious parties for the development of district and betterment of people.

Another elder Abdul Ghafoor Khan Takhtikhel also underlined the need for expanding the sphere of the jirga to all political parties.

JUI-S district chief Maulana Habibullah Haqqani said that no one could deny the importance of the jirga as it always played an effective role for maintaining peace and harmony in the district. He called for reorganisation of the jirga and said that elders at union council level should be included in it.

Among others JUI-Nazryati chief Mufti Mohammad Khan Haqqani, former MNA Ghulamud Din Khan, former nazim Malik Mohammad Idrees Khan, Malik Meer Nawaz Khan, Iqbal Hussain of PPP, Malik Iqbal Khan Khoidadkhel and Haji Abdul Rahim also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2015

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