SWABI, Feb 4: A jirga has been constituted to resolve out of court a dispute over a plot of land acquired for a health unit. The Zaida Basic Health Unit was upgraded to a 25-bed rural health centre (RHC) by the provincial government a few months ago for which land measuring 4kanals was purchased by the health department. The government had sanctioned Rs50 million for the project.

However, when the work was about to begin, one Majeed Khan acquired a stay order from a local court on the plea that he had a share in the land. “The 4kanal land was purchased from one Abdul Haleem Khan — uncle of Majeed Khan. We completed all formalities but were unaware of another man’s share in the land,” said an official.

The jirga comprises Noor Islam, Habib Akbar, Abdul Qudoos Khan, Fazal Rehman, Shamsul Qamar and Khan Sher, said the sources.

The NWFP education minister Maulana Fazal Ali also held a meeting with jirga members and stressed for a peaceful and out of court settlement over the issue.

“I hope the issue would be resolved in the best interest of the people,” said the minister.