SWABI: A local jirga succeeded to avert an eminent clash between two tribes in Shahmansoor union council here on Monday.

Both the tribes settled their dispute by negotiations and vowed to remain peaceful during a ceremony. The ceremony was attended by local leaders of various political parties and officials of the district administration.

The rivalry erupted when the members of Awan tribe constituted a body to represent them but the Yousafzai tribe considered it a conspiracy against it.

The young members of both the tribes started to use social media against each other. They began to challenge and hurl threats at each other.

However, to avoid a clash, a few local elders started efforts and convinced the representatives of both the tribes to sit across the table and settle their issue through peaceful means.

The talks held between the elders of both the tribes culminated with a good note when they agreed that they would live peacefully and rein the youngsters. A ceremony was held that was attended by elders of both tribes.

The elders advised the youngsters to leave all matters to the jirga members and let them take steps for living peacefully with each other.

“The credit for the settlement of the dispute goes to a few elders, who worked day and night for an amicable settlement,” an elder of Shahmansoor village told the ceremony.

Another elder said that the role of jirga members and shrewdness of the leaders of both the tribes resulted in a peaceful settlement of the issue.

Meanwhile, hailstones coupled with rain hit various region of the district on Monday. The entire district was in the grip of server cold grip and people remained indoors. Business activities were also affected by the hailstorm and rain.

The hailstorm also damaged standing crops in different areas of the district.

The badly affected areas include Shahmansoor, proper Swabi, Panjpir, Jamalabad, Kala, Zaida, Maneri, Naro Kallay, Shagai, Main Dheri and various other regions.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 5th, 2021