LAKKI MARWAT: The protesting Janikhel tribesmen on Sunday ended their around a month-long sit-in in Bannu district as marathon negotiations with government representatives bore fruit and the latter agreed to fully implement an earlier agreement reached between the two sides.

The Janikhel tribesmen staged the protest sit-in about one month ago after killing of one of their elders.

After holding successful talks with the government, the Janikhel elders announced to call off their sit-in and agreed to bury the slain tribal elder, Malik Naseeb Khan, who was killed by unidentified assailants on May 31 ad his body was placed in the protest instead of burial.

Later in the day Malik Naseeb Khan was laid to rest at a local graveyard and a large number of people attended his funeral.

A tribal jirga of elders from Ahmadzai and Utmanzai clans assisted the government team in talks. Provincial Transport Minister Malik Shah Mohammad Khan, Bannu Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair Niazi and DPO Imran Shah represented the government in the talks.

Officials assure tribal elders of enforcement of March accord

The protesters had camped along Baran Bridge near Tableeghi Markaz where the tribal elders and the government teams negotiated for four days.

Bannu Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai told Dawn that the Janikhel tribesmen after prolonged talks with local authorities decided to end their protest and bury the body of their slain elder Malik Naseeb Khan.

He said that both sides also agreed to form a seven-member jirga of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribesmen to act as mediator between both the sides in case of any issue arising in future.

Mr Yousfazai said that the earlier agreement reached between both the sides in March this year would remain intact and would be implemented in letter and spirit.

He said that government also released four “missing persons” belonging to Janikhel tribe and they were handed over to the protesting tribesmen.

The killing of Malik Naseeb Khan had triggered protest in the town as the relatives and tribesmen had staged the sit-in by placing his body outside the police station.

After the government remained unmoved, a large number of Janikhel tribesmen began a march towards the federal capital on Wednesday last along with the body of the deceased.

Police intercepted the protesters at Tochi Bridge in Bannu where clashes took place, leaving a protester dead and scores of others including policemen injured. The protesters were demanding arrest of killers and implementation of the earlier agreement.

The provincial government and Janikhel elders had signed the March agreement following an earlier sit-in and long march by tribal people against the killing of four teenagers.

In that agreement, the government had agreed to restore peace in Janikhel area and clear it of all the armed groups.

It was also agreed that all the detainees of Janikhel tribe with the government would be scrutinised and the process would be preferably completed in three months. It was added that innocent persons would be freed whereas those involved in any offence would be dealt with according to law.

“We have assured Janikhel elders that the agreement signed by the government will be implemented,” said Minister Malik Shah Mohammad Khan. He added that government would compensate the tribesmen for the losses suffered by them during the protest march.

The minister said that the government already released 54 tribesmen, who were arrested by police during the clashes.

An official source said that government would release all Janikhel tribesmen or would produce them before the court during one month.

Meanwhile, the Janikhel protesters returned to the town after the successful talks and performed the burial of slain tribal chief Malik Naseeb Khan in a local graveyard.

They thanked elders of other tribes who helped them to reach a settlement with the government.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2021