KOHAT, May 25: Parachinar Reforms Committee has severely criticised the government for arresting members of peace jirga and expressed fear that it will further delay restoration and rehabilitation of the people in the area.

An emergency meeting of the committee, based in Kohat for time being, blamed the political agent of Kurram Agency, Zaheerul Islam, for trying to sabotage the peace efforts by misusing 40 Frontier Crimes Regulations.

Addressing the meeting, Malik Sawab Gul alleged that the district nazim of Hangu district, Khan Afzal Khan, was playing in the hands of bureaucracy. He demanded open inquiry into the arrest of the jirga members.

Through a unanimously passed resolution, participants of the meeting demanded immediate release of the detained members of peace jirga and early start of peace negotiations.

They said that more than 5,000 people had been dislocated during the Kurram Agency violence and they were living in very bad conditions in various parts of the country.

They termed the arrest of the tribal elders during peace talks, who were invited by the government for talks, against the Pakhtun norms and culture.