MOHMAND: A jirga of Babazai and Khwezai elders here on Tuesday decided to stop entry of Halimzai transport vehicles into their areas till solution of Torkhwa marble mountain dispute.

The jirga, held in Jabbar Johar area, was attended by a large number of elders belonging to Babazai and Khwezai tribes. It decided that transport vehicles of Halimzai tribesmen would not be allowed to cross boundaries of Khwezai and Biazai tehsils until the dispute was resolved.

The elders said that district administration should ensure implementation of their decisions.

Addressing the jirga, Malik Fayyaz Khan Khwezai, Haji Syed Rehman Torakhwa Babazi, Malik Taj Mohammad Jabbar Johar, Malik Wilayat Torakhwa, Malik Mosam Khan Yarakhel, Malik Safdar Malang Kor, Dr Raz Mohammad and Haji Khanzada Markhani Safi said that district administration should show seriousness in resolving the Torakhwa marble dispute.

They said that their rival Haji Nawab stopped supply of Torakhwa marble due to which several people became jobless. They said that Halimzai tribe should guarantee safety of marble traders and transporters in their territorial limits otherwise they would not allow people belonging to Halimzai to carry on business of marble in Khwezai and Biazai.

Speakers said that they too could not guarantee safety of the vehicles of Halimzai tribe in their areas. They said that both the tribes made agreement with each other against closure of their undisputed marble mountains and would support each other in all circumstances.

They said that their agreement with Haji Nawab expired in 2017. “Now tribesmen have leased the mountain to Haji Syed Rehman and Malik Fayyaz. Therefore, the government should ensure implementation of decisions of the jirga and activate the Torakhwa marble mountain,” they added.

They said that the jirga formed by the administration declared Haji Nawab party as a loser. They said that due to closure of marble business at Torakhwa, locals were facing problems and difficulties. They added it was the responsibility of the administration to resolve the issue.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2024