MANSEHRA: A local jirga on Thursday directed two rival tribes to lay down their arms until the ownership dispute of Mor Valley, a longstanding bone of contention between them, was settled amicably.

The jirga was attended by local elders, clerics, deputy commissioner and district police officer of Kolai-Palas

“We want the ownership dispute over Mor Valley to be settled between both tribes once and for all. Until this jirga issues its final verdict, neither side should create a law and order situation,” Deputy Commissioner Noorul Amin told members of Khokamungkhel and Daramkhel tribes during the jirga held at his office.

The jirga was convened after members of Khokamungkhel and Daramkhel tribes allegedly took positions in bunkers and exchanged heavy gunfire over the ownership of Mor Valley, a scenic area often described as a paradise on earth.

The participants discussed the prevailing tension in detail and decreed that neither of the tribes would carry arms or would engage in hostility until the dispute was resolved through an examination of historical records.

“A follow-up jirga will be held on June 20, during which we are likely to settle the ownership issue once and for all. Until then, both tribes will exercise complete restraint,” Mr Amin said.

DPO Arbab Shafiullah Jan told the jirga that police would take strict legal action if either tribe violated the jirga’s decision.

“Representatives of district administration, local clerics and elders from the former combined Kohistan district will visit the disputed valley and help to determine the ownership issue. Anyone taking the law into his hands will face legal action,” he said.

Meanwhile, MPA Mohammad Riaz and local elder Aftab Qureshi expressed optimism that the dispute over Mor Valley’s ownership would be resolved in a peaceful and amicable manner.

“The government has approved projects to promote tourism in the disputed valley. Once the ownership issue is resolved, roads and other development schemes can be executed in the area,” they said.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026