PESHAWAR, April 29: In a rare show of skillful display, the tribesmen of Waziristan performed traditional dance, Atanrh, to drum-beats and tunes of folk music of Mahsud, Wazir and Dawar tribes at a concert held at Hayatabad sports complex here on Sunday night.

The function, organized by the Waziristan Students Welfare Society of the Peshawar University, brought a mixed audience comprising people of all shades — retired and serving civil and military bureaucracy, politicians, social workers, tribal elders, businessmen and students, all hailing from North and South Waziristan Agencies. The concert was also enjoyed by guests from other tribes of the province. A number of women also attended the concert.

Noted folk singer Kamal Mahsud, stole the show by singing Pashto songs joined by hundreds of participants from the audience.

The speakers in the their speeches called upon the audience to uphold the rich traditions of Waziristan life.

They called on the participants to make every possible effort for the welfare and prosperity of their homeland by equipping themselves and their future generations with modern education.

The function was a departure from the past when the concerts were held for a select gathering in  the provincial metropolis.

Majority of the participants, who are settled in big cities in connection with their social and educational pursuits, comprised the educated lot of the tribal society.

They had travelled all the way from their work places to Peshawar for attending the concert.

The Nadra chief informed the participants that they could help the government formulate viable policies by submitting correct data for the issuance of computerized identity cards. Correct data was indispensable for allocation of equitable resources to the development of far-flung and backward areas of the country, he observed.

The musical function, which resumed after the guests were served with food and refreshments, continued till late in the night.