KOHAT, March 19: A jirga of Mengal tribe of Kurram Agency has urged the commissioner Kohat division to stop the Hangu police from harassment and arrests of tribesmen under the collective responsibility law in the Tal firing case.

Eleven people were killed when gunmen opened fire on a passenger coach on March 13 near Mamo Khwar area of Tal.

The jirga, led by former PML-N MNA Javed Ibrahim Paracha, called on commissioner Kahlid Khan Umerzai here on Saturday and informed him of their reservations about the police action against the tribesmen.

The elders, including Malik Sawab Khan and Aziz Khan Mengal, said that the attackers had been killed at the border with Waziristan and their bodies brought to Doaba police station.

They observed that the arrests of Mengal tribesmen in the agency would only worsen the law and order situation, which was already out of control of the tribal administration and law-enforcement agencies.

The jirga members said that the attack on the passenger vehicle had taken place in the tribal belt while the Mengal tribesmen were living in the settled area at Mamo Khwar region of Tal tehsil of Hangu district.

The commissioner asked them to refrain from providing shelter to the anti-social elements, which was against the tribal traditions and cooperate with the government.

Mr Umerzai assured the jirga that he would look into their complaint of arrests of innocent tribesmen under the collective responsibility clause.

He termed tribesmen an asset for the country and requested them for their cooperation in the war against criminals in their region.

The elders reminded the commissioner that the government itself had blamed unidentified people for firing at the vehicle while defending themselves against a raid by security forces.

Meanwhile, the Parachinar reforms committee in its monthly meeting held here called for close cooperation of the law-enforcement agencies and the tribesmen to ensure peace in the region.