PESHAWAR, April 2: A three-day tribal jirga, organized by Jamaat-i-Islami, began its proceedings at the Al Markaz-i-Islami here on Friday.

The jirga has been convened to deliberate upon the situation in South Waziristan where army troops recently conducted a massive operation to flush out foreign militants and their tribal protectors.

Apart from discussing the situation in South Waziristan, thetribal elders would also review the FrontierCrimes Regulation (FCR) and the socio-economic environment in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The jirga will propose an alternative administrative and judicial system for the tribal region.

According to an organiser, about 2,000 delegates from the seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions had been invited for the jirga session. He claimed that over 700 delegates had arrived at the Al Markaz-i-Islami.

The Jamaat's chief Qazi Hussain, NWFP senior minister Sirajul Haq and other leaders would address the jirga.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the jirga, the JI deputy provincial chief, Haroon Rashid, condemned the operation in the South Waziristan region.

He said that the tribesmen would neither follow dictation from abroad nor compromise on their customs and traditions. He said that the people of Fata had fought against the British Raj and defeated all invaders. He said that the tribesmenwere true patriots and rendered sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan.

Mr Haroon said that the immature and ill-planned policies of were creating a sense of deprivation among the people of Fata and called for the review of these policies.