PESHAWAR, Jan 20: A Jirga of the frontier regions (FR) of Peshawar and Kohat at Zarghoonkhel Jirga Hall in Derra Adam Khel has decided that tribesmen of the area would boycott implementation of the devolution plan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas if they were merged to settled areas.

The Jirga decided that a strike protest demonstrations would be held against the merger of the regions into settled areas at FR Kohat and FR Peshawar on Tuesday.

The grand jirga was presided over by former member of the National Assembly Malik Mohammad Aslam Khan. Malik Haji Noor Sher Khan, Baz Gul Afridi, Malik Faroz Khan and Haji Tahoorul Islam also spoke.

The participants rejected the plan and warned that they would not accept any interference in free status, customs and traditions.

They said that if the government was interested in any reforms, it should take the tribal elders into confidence.

The Jirga decided that the tribesmen would fight against India voluntarily with the armed forces if it attacked Pakistan.

The tribal people vowed that they would not give refuge to the criminals and the violators would be fined up to Rs5 million.—PPI