NORTH WAZIRISTAN: The Uthmanzai jirga on Sunday set on fire the car of former provincial minister Mohammad Iqbal Wazir, and also fined him Rs2 million for ‘violating’ jirga traditions.

Mr Wazir has joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians and is the party’s candidate for PK-103.

The Uthmanzai jirga elders of Shewah tehsil of North Waziristan said that the former provincial minister for relief and resettlement had violated the jirga traditions by not participating in a protest to press the government for acceptance of their demands for peace and bringing an end to target killings.

The jirga leaders said that the former minister had been warned several times to attend the jirga and clear his position about charges levelled against him, but to no avail.

It merits a mention here that Uthmanzai tribes have been protesting for last seven months to force the government to accept their demands, including restoration of peace, bringing an end to target killings and asking the security forces to vacate seminaries.

The jirga had asked the former minister to support them in their protest campaign against the government. However, he was hesitant to participate in their protest. Therefore, the jirga had decided to impose penalty on him for violating jirga traditions.

The jirga had initially imposed Rs5 million fine on him and also torched his two vehicles, but later on the request of Kabalkhel tribe, the jirga decreased the penalty to Rs2m.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024