LANDI KOTAL, June 13: The Khyber Agency chapter of the Jamaat-i-Islami has said that the military operation in South Waziristan Agency would bring disastrous consequences for the country if it is not stopped immediately.

A demand to this effect was made at a tribal jirga organized by the party in Khyber Agency, in Jamrud, on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the Jamrud political administration sealed the JI office in Jamrud and detained some workers in a bid to stop the jirga meeting.

The administration also erected barricades at various checkpoints on the Jamrud-Landi Kotal and Jamrud-Bara roads to prevent JI workers from gathering at the jirga venue.

The Khasadar force also detained some journalists for a short while at Takhtha Beg checkpoint, but later they were allowed to cover the jirga. Speaking at the jirga, JI Naib Amir and MNA Sahibzada Haroon Rashid accused President Musharraf of carrying out genocide of innocent tribesmen on the behest of the US administration.

He criticized the bombardment by jet fighters and gunship helicopters in the South Waziristan territory. Sahibzada Haroon Rashid rejected the proposed creation of tribal council and alleged that the council was being created on the advice of the US.

He demanded of the government to hold local bodies elections on adult franchise basis in all the seven tribal agencies which would enable the creation of elected and independent councils in the tribal agencies.