WANA: Mismanagement marred jirga of Ahmadzai Wazir tribe here on Thursday. It was convened by the administration to seek input of local tribes to stop targeted killing and other crimes in South Waziristan tribal district.

Deputy Commissioner Hamid Ullah Khattak chaired the jirga which was also attended by officers of the law-enforcement agencies and elders of Ahmadzai tribe. The district administration had convened the jirga at Wana’s Frontier Corps camp to devise a joint strategy to end lawlessness.

The area has witnessed sharp increase in crimes particularly targeted killings in recent days. The elders demanded ban on movement of vehicles with tinted glasses in the area. They asked the government to shift all offices, including camp office of South Waziristan deputy commissioner, from adjacent Tank district to Wana.

The jirga witnessed uproar when local leader of Awami National Party Ayaz Wazir proposed to empower the police to take decisive action against criminals and maintain peace in the area. He said that police should be empowered to raid houses for arrest of wanted persons.

His proposal infuriated the elders which caused mismanagement in the jirga. The elders said that raids by police on houses would be considered violation of local customs and traditions. They said police would not be allowed to enter homes.

Officials said that after differences the administration postponed the jirga. However, elders of Ahmadzai Wazir convened their own jirga in Wana on Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2020