KOHAT, May 1: Concerned communities have disapproved decisions made by the grand jirga comprising elders from Orakzai Agency to settle the Hangu sectarian dispute.

The refusal by the shia community to bring 80 sheep to the Sunni Supreme Council in accordance with the jirga decision to apologise for killings and damage to property caused during violence on Ashura day has infuriated the business community.

The businessmen who suffered a cumulative loss of Rs1.49 billion in violence have been asking the government for early payment of compensation and punishment to criminals under laws of the settled areas.

Maulana Jawadi, district khateeb of Hangu, said that over 25 per cent of shops destroyed in the violence belonged to the shia community. He urged the government not to treat any side as aggressor.

He said that early distribution of compensation by the government would help a lot in normalising the situation.

Mohammd Amin, whose shop was destroyed in the violence, said: “We pay taxes to the government. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government to protect our lives and property. We want punishment for those involved in violence and killings. They should be dealt with under the law of the land.”

Criticising the jirga decisions, he said how could a sheep be substitute for a human life and how could it help the affected traders re-establish their business? We want money to restart out normal lives.”

The businessmen in the two communities said that Rs360 million sanctioned by the provincial government to be paid as compensation was peanuts and demanded full compensation which according to independent estimates totalled Rs2 billion.

Syed Mahtabul Hassan, chairman of the Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen, criticised the arrest of three protesters who had damaged a government vehicle and snatched guns from policemen after the Ashura blast.

He said that such acts would jeopardise efforts to restore peace in the town.