BAJAUR: Elders of Tharkani and Utmankhel tribes, who are opposed to the former Fata’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, here on Wednesday expressed reservations over the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, terming it against the local customs and traditions.

The elders, most of them being the supporters of now defunct Frontier Crimes Regulation, showed their concerns during the inaugural meeting of the mediators’ (Saliseen) committee under the ADR.

The district administration had arranged the meeting, which was also attended by deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam, additional deputy commissioner (general) Zameen Momand, additional deputy commissioner (finance) Sohail Aziz and assistant commissioner, Khar. Hamza Zahoor.

The officials told the participants that the meeting was meant to inform them about the introduction and significance of ADR system in resolving the disputes amicably in accordance with the local customs and traditions.

The participants were told that a 56-member mediators committee had also been formed in that regard.

However, according to a participant of the meeting, elders of Tharkani and Utmankhel tribes objected to the introduction of ADR system in the district.

The elders were of the view that ADR mechanism could not replace the traditional jirga system.

The participant of the meeting said the elders also refused to become members of the mediators’ committee under the ADR.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2021