PESHAWAR: A group of elders belonging to the Khyber district have demanded of the provincial government to take effective steps for maintenance of peace and controlling inter-tribe disputes in the area.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, the elders led by Malik Dauran Gul said the federal government had failed to fulfil the promises made with the people at the time of merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said that in the past the jirga system (councils of elders) played a key role in resolution of local disputes and maintenance of peace, but the people were left with no powers after the amendments to the Constitution.

Mr Gul claimed that the elders were not taken on board while making the changes to the system. He said that the local jirga system had virtually become ineffective in the prevailing situation and as a result the inter-tribe disputes and crimes had registered a noticeable increase.

“We want revival of the jirga system and to work in close liaison with the district administration and police for resolution of different local disputes,” the elder said.

He said that most of the disputes were due to absence of the land revenue record. He said the provincial government should take advantage of the elders’ suggestions to maintain peace and control crimes in the area.

Other elders, including Malik Abdur Razaq Afridi, Malik Khalid Khan Afridi and Nadir Khan Shinwari, also shared views about the significance of jirga system and stressed the need for close liaison between the local administration and elders of the area to resolve critical issues.

Besides, they demanded improvement in the education and health facilities to meet the needs of the growing population. They also asked for allocation of sufficient funds for construction of roads, provision of drinking water and repair of damaged buildings of educational institutions in the district.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2021