BAJAUR, April 2: The tribesmen of Bajaur Agency have threatened to start a civil disobedience movement against the proposed political and administrative reforms in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

A jirga held in Khar, the agency headquarters, on Tuesday categorically rejected the proposed reforms for Fata, including representation in the NWFP Assembly, demanding the government to review the reforms and take tribal elders into confidence over the matter.

A large number of notables and Maliks of the agency, including former parliamentarians, were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Jirga chairman of Tribal Movement, Mian Shah Jehan, opposed the reforms and termed it against the customs and traditions of Fata.

He said the government had decided to bring to an end the free and independent status

of tribesmen through the so-called reforms. He stressed the NWFP governor to honour the opinion of the tribal elders and involve them in the reform process.

The jirga decided that if the government imposed its reforms, then the tribal elders would launch a protest movement in the tribal belt and migrate to Afghanistan.