LANDI KOTAL, Oct 22: A representative jirga of the Zakhakhel elders resolved on Sunday to stop the entry of all armed groups into Landi Kotal. Reacting sharply to the recent visit of hundreds of Lashkar-i-Islam activists to Landi Kotal, Zakhakhel elders vowed to resist any such acts of the so-called religious outfit.

The jirga, which was held at the palatial residence of former MNA Haji Ayub Afridi, resolved that the prevailing peaceful law and order situation of Landi Kotal tehsil would be maintained at all cost.

The jirga was attended by Malik Abdur Raziq, Malik Darya Khan, Malik Abdul Halim, Malik Jafar Khan, Malik Khalid, Councillor Hukam Khan and others.

The jirga participants observed that the area elders and religious leaders were capable of resolving all thorny issues, including religious issues. Thus there was no need from any outside group to interfere in the internal affairs of the Landi Kotal tehsil.

Participants of the jirga constituted a 20-member delegation which will meet Mangal Bagh, the self-proclaimed leader of the Lashkar-i-Islam, in Bara next week. The delegation will convey to Mangal Bagh the decisions of the jirga and sentiments of the general public regarding his visit to Landi Kotal on the second day of Eidul Fitr.

Mangal Bagh along with hundreds of armed supporters visited the residences of Haji Ayub Afridi and Malik Darya Khan Zakhakhel on Oct 14. In order to prevent his entry into the Shinwari area of Landi Kotal tehsil, hundreds of armed activists of Tanzim Ahl-i-Sunnat-wal-Jamaat blocked the Peshawar-Torkhum road at Charwazgai and also closed down the Landi Kotal bazaar.

Mangal Bagh, however, returned to Bara after having lunch with Ayub Afridi. Mangal Bagh had earlier in several of his speeches on his illegal FM radio stations announced to challenge the authority of MNA Noorul Haq Qadri and Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik and restrict their influence in Khyber Agency.

The two parliamentarian brothers are jointly heading the Tanzim Ahl-i- Sunnat-wal-Jamaat in Khyber Agency which has thousands of supporters.

The Lashkar-i-Islam which is largely influenced by Deobandi school of thought and Tanzim Ahl-i-Sunnat-wal-Jamaat which has its inclination towards the Barelvi sect, are having longstanding differences over the observance of certain religious rituals.

Meanwhile, Mufti Munir Shakir, the mentor of Lashkar-i-Islam, has announced to restart his religious sermons, including translation of the Holy Quran from his newly-installed FM radio station from October 22.

Close aides of Mufti Shakir however refused to disclose the location from where the radio will operate. They said that the FM broadcast could be heard in Orakzai, Tirah, Bara, Jamrud, Peshawar and surrounding areas.