KOHAT: A jirga was held in Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision on Tuesday to negotiate the hand over to the administration of the tribesmen involved in an attack on policemen and burning of private vehicle of local SHO during a protest rally staged here on Sunday against the merger.

Civil and military officials, including assistant commissioner, Darra, Shayan Ali Java, army’s Col Shafique and members of Qabail Qaumi Tehreek, including Haji Akbar, Noor Zaman, Haji Sadiq and others, attended the jirga.

The elders condemned the police action in the tribal subdivision, but the officials justified the action, saying government writ was to be established in the hitherto tribal area after its merger with Kohat.

The assistant commissioner asked the elders to hand over the tribesmen involved in injuring of the policemen and burning the vehicle of the SHO, and also pay for the damage caused to the vehicle.

However, the elders insisted they would hand over the youth involved in attack on police with the consent of all the elders. They said they were ready to pay for the damage done to the SHO’s private vehicle.

They had attacked policemen, and burnt SHO’s private vehicle

It is to mention here that police of Darra Adamkhel had nominated 19 tribesmen and dozens of unidentified persons belonging to Qabail Qaumi Tehreek for staging a violent protest on Sunday against the merger, which led to the burning of a private vehicle of the SHO and caused injuries to three policemen.

SHO Waqar Khan told Dawn that they received news about the protest by the tribesmen in Sheraki area and reached there to provide protection to the participants. However, the angry tribesmen torched his vehicle and pelted stones at the policemen, he added.

“We ran to save our lives as we were not prepared for such a response. However, army intervened and we left Darra,” he added.

He said elders Haji Akbar Khan and Noor Zaman instigated the tribesmen to attack the police.

TROPHY UNVEILED: The trophy and logo of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2020 games was unveiled at the district council hall on Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner Matiullah Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said sportsmen from the whole province would participate in the games.

He said sports were an essential part of curricular activities as they made the students physically and mentally fit.

Regional sports officer, Kohat, Hazratullah Khattak, district sports officer, Karak, Ismail Khan, district sports officer, Hangu, Mohammad Naveed, and others were in attendance.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2020