KOHAT, Dec 9: Commissioner Khalid Khan Umerzai on Thursday urged the clerics and elders from Hangu district to set aside all political and sectarian differences for brining stability to the restive war-torn region.

He was speaking to a jirga of Sunni supreme council and elders belonging to Hangu district here at his office. He asked them to fully enforce the joint peace agreement reached between both the sects last year.

Mr Umerzai said that worsening law and order situation in any part would have negative impacts for the whole country. He said that it was the responsibility of clerics and elders to preach harmony and shun their differences for creation of peaceful environment for the coming generations.

He said that solution of all religious and tribal issues was possible through jirga system which needed to be strengthened. The commissioner requested the clerics and elders to take him into confidence concerning their reservations, if any, about the Muharram processions' routes and security so that everything could be amicably solved.

They also reviewed security arrangements for Muharram in the whole region in the aftermath of the Wednesday's suicide blast in Kohat and felt the need for increased joint patrolling in sensitive parts of Kohat and Hangu districts.

The commissioner directed the Hangu administration to immediately ban the entry of Afghan refugees in the city limits and search all vehicles and people travelling between Orakzai Agency and Hangu. LEVIES MEN HURT:

Two Levies personnel of Kurram Agency were seriously injured in a remote-controlled bomb attack on their vehicle near Saro Khel in Hangu on Thursday.

Officials said that havaldar Shaheed and sepoy Islam Gul were coming to Hangu from Chappri checkpost when their vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled device in Saro Khel area.