LANDI KOTAL, May 20: The Awami National Party’s Khyber Agency chapter has warned authorities that the people of the area may be forced to take up arms if electricity meters were forcibly installed in the tribal areas.

This was resolved in the annual meeting of the ANP’s Khyber Agency chapter held here on Tuesday.

Participants of the meeting urged the federal government to provide royalty on power produced at the Warsak Dam before they could be convinced to negotiate on the issue of installing electricity meters.

The meeting resolved that the people of the area would “never” pay electricity bills till they start receiving royalty.

Stressing the need for implementing reforms in the tribal areas, participants of the meeting called upon the governor of the NWFP to announce the date for holding local bodies elections in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Criticising the Frontier Crimes Regulation law, they said that it was impeding the development of the tribal areas.

The meeting asked the federal government to change the FCR law keeping in view the traditions and aspiration of the people of these areas.