SUKKUR April 20: Violators of the Jirga decisions should be handed over to the police by tribal chiefs, who had settled their disputes earlier.

This was said by Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar on Sunday while talking with journalists in Ghotki.

Appealing to the tribal chiefs to restore peace and normalcy in their areas, he said that violation of the Jirga’s decisions would not be tolerated.

The chief minister urged the police to maximize their efforts for maintaining law and order, saying that the police should bind the tribal chiefs to hold negotiations for settling disputes.

He ordered the police to take effective security measures in Rustam (Shikarpur) and Kingri (Khairpur) where 10 persons had been recently killed in tribal clashes.

He also called for holding an independent inquiry in this regard.

Mr Mahar said that peace was vital for progress in the province, which in turn was necessary for overcoming unemployment.

Continuing lawlessness, he said, would add to the joblessness and also affect the trade activity.

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai academic block of the Roshan Tara Secondary School being run by the Sindh Graduates Association.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mahar stressed the need to revive the 1,834 abandoned schools, saying that strict measures were being taken in this regard.

Expressing his concern over the low literacy rate in the country, he said that even countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were enjoying a literacy rate of at least 80 per cent.

He announced a two-million-rupee grant for constructing another block in the school besides announcing to provide a bus and five computers.

Speaking about the law and order situation in the province, the chief minister urged the tribal elders to educate their respective clans and restrain them from indulging in criminal activities, adding that tribal feuds had hampered development of the province.

Mr Mahar said that an information technology centre would be set up in each of the district headquarters.

He also announced the upgradation of the taluka hospital, Ghotki, and provision of an ambulance to every taluka hospital in the Ghotki district.

Earlier, president of the Sindh Graduates Association Wali Mohammed Roshan, founder member of the Association Dr Bashir Ahmed Ghoto and its district president Ali Gohar Pathan spoke on the occasion.