BATTAGRAM: The elders of Allai tehsil in Battagram district on Tuesday held a jirga and set the July 25 deadline for the district administration to evict armed men of Kolai-Palas district from the Chorr Valley.

They warned that if the sought-after action wasn’t taken, their tribesmen would take up arms against the ‘illegal’ land occupants.

The jirga, which was attended by elders of all tribes, was held in the Banna Rest House. The participants claimed that the residents of Kolai Palas district made a forced entry to Chorr Valley and killed their cattle.

AC Allai Noor Mohammad Khan, DSP Ghulam Mohammad and Nawabzada Akbar Namoos Khan were also in attendance there. The valley’s ownership is a longstanding issue between Allai tribes and Kolai-Palas people and has caused many armed clashes.

The participants said a jirga was held in the deputy commissioner’s office and decided that nobody from both sides would enter Chorr Valley, but more than 50 armed men from Kolai Palas district violated the decision.

They said the administration should get the valley vacated from armed people of Kolai-Palas and if that didn’t happen, their men would take up arms to act against the latter.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2021