MINGORA, Oct 24: A jirga of over 4,000 tribal elders from different villages of the restive Matta tehsil on Friday gave a three-day deadline to the Taliban to leave the area or face action of an armed lashkar (tribal force).

The tribal elders and local people from Mandal Dag, Roringar, Gwalerai, Pashtunai, Nalkot, Beha, Fazal Banda, Tangar, Labut, Barthana, Anmal, Lailbanr and other villages participated in the meeting held at the Government High School Gwalerai amid strict security arrangements.

A spokesman for the jirga said that over five hundred armed volunteers stood guard on the occasion to avoid any suicide attack. The jirga, among others, was also attended by prominent figures including Pir Samiullah, Major (retired) Khurshid Ali, Syed Akber Khan, Zarawar Khan and Behramand.

The spokesman said that the jirga established an armed lashkar, which had started patrolling the area from Friday to maintain peace in the troubled region. The jirga also decided to open all educational institutions including girls’ schools from Saturday, adding that the health centres and government offices would also be opened.

The participants of the jirga vowed to took arms against militants and even security forces if any of them made ‘attempt’ to create law and order situation in the area.

They reiterated to restore peace in the area at all cost, adding they were ready to give ‘price’ for normalcy to the troubled region.

On the occasion, the jirga was told that most of the militants had left the area and the remaining had assured to pull out within the next three days. The jirga also condemned the killing of innocent people in shelling on Bar Thana area.

BODY RECOVERED: The throat-cut body of a policeman was recovered here on Friday.