MOHMAND: A longstanding dispute over ownership and management of marble deposits in the Anzari and Gharibi areas of Musakhel has divided local tribal groups, with one faction insisting on holding a proposed jirga while another calling for its postponement until the Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) decides the matter.
In separate news conferences at Mohmand Press Club in Ghalanai on Friday, elders representing Musakhel Sra Khwa and Musakhel Yarakhel presented their respective positions and urged the district administration to intervene to prevent further escalation and facilitate an amicable resolution.
Speaking for Musakhel Sra Khwa, elders Juma Khan, Yar Mohammad, Manda Ali, Abdullah and Khial Mohammad said the proposed jirga aimed to discuss local issues, protect community rights and develop a collective strategy for addressing matters of common concern.
They claimed that 260 households had entrusted 10 local committees, each comprising 26 members, with authority relating to management of the marble mines.
One faction calls for holding jirga, other wants DRC to decide matter
They alleged that certain opposing groups were attempting to have the proposed gathering postponed and called on the deputy commissioner, the district police officer and other relevant authorities to ensure that the meeting could proceed peacefully and without obstruction.
The elders also claimed that a boundary dispute with the Ghanam Shah group had been resolved through the DRC.
In a separate press conference, Musakhel Yarakhel elders, including Malik Safdar Khan, Malik Manzoor Khan, Bakht Mohammad and Yar Jan, said the dispute over the Gharibi and Anzari marble hills had been persisting since 2002.
They said that mineral resources were a collective asset of the concerned tribes and should not be treated as exclusive property of any individual or family.
They said reconciliation jirgas had been held under local customs at different times, but the dispute had also been taken to the civil court and the high court.
According to the elders, the high court had referred the matter to the DRC, where proceedings were still underway. They called for the proposed public jirga to be deferred until the council issued its decision and urged all parties to respect the outcome.
The Yarakhel elders also accused the opposing faction of failing to substantiate its ownership claims and avoiding direct dialogue. They asked the district administration to prevent the meeting from taking place until the dispute was resolved.
These allegations could not be independently verified.
The conflicting claims have highlighted the need for a transparent and mutually acceptable settlement of the dispute over the valuable mineral resources.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026
