PESHAWAR, July 8: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, announced on Thursday lifting of economic blockades against some sub-tribes of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe in the South Waziristan tribal region.

The government under clause 21 of the 1901 Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) declared economic curbs against Ahmadzai Wazir tribe and closed down more than 6,000 shops of the tribesmen in Wana on May 30 for failing to produce foreign militants for registration.

Talking to a 70-member representative tribal jirga comprising elders and ulema of Shakai and Santoi-Mantoi areas of the South Waziristan region here on Thursday, the governor appreciated recent resolve of the respective tribes against foreign elements.

The central leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) who attended an extensive briefing on Wana situation in Islamabad on Tuesday also demanded of the government to lifteconomic sanctions against the entire Ahmadzai Wazir tribe to avert possible humanitarian crises.

The governor, however, said the decision would be applicable to the tribes of Shakai area only, said a handout. He said if rest of the tribes also cooperated with the government against foreign elements, restrictions against them could also be lifted.

The jirga was headed by former federal minister and chief of the Wazir tribes Malik Faridullah Khan. Governor Iftikhar also announced that the transport which was impounded by the government would be released, arrested tribesmen would be released and electricity supply in the area would also be restored.

Opening of shops of the respective tribes in Wana could also be considered, he added. He said that edible items worth Rs 500,000 would be sent to the area for distribution. He added that some foreign miscreants together with their few local harbourers tried to disrupt peace in the area but their efforts had been foiled with theactive cooperation of the local tribesmen.

The governor rejected the propaganda being made by certain vested quarters that alien people, majority of whom were Uzbeks and Chechens were taking part in violence, or that action against these people had been initiated on the behest of the US.

In fact, the governor said, Afghan jihad concluded in 1985 and thereafter all the Mujahideen left the area for their respective countries. The Chechens and Uzbeks, the governor remarked never took part in Afghan jihad rather they were part of the former Soviet Union and were in the opposite camp to oppose the Afghan jihad.

The governor also dispelled the impression that actions of the government were targeted against the tribes and said that except Waziristan, nothing was happening in any other part of the Fata.

In a related development two more wanted militants Mohammad Javid and Maulvi Abbas have agreed to surrender to the administration on Friday, our correspondent Dilawar Khan Wazir adds from Wana.

An elder of the Yargulkhel tribe Malik Shireen Jan informed a jirga that both militants had conveyed their willingness to surrender before the authorities. A jirga is scheduled to be held in Shahalam on Friday, some 15 kilometres west of Wana where both wanted persons would present themselves to the elders of the tribe. Two of the nine wanted militants had already given themselves up to the authorities last week.