PESHAWAR, July 17: Speakers at a tribal jirga here on Tuesday opposed resumption of supply of goods to Nato forces in Afghanistan through Pakistan and asked the government to withdraw army from Federally Administered Tribal Areas immediately for restoration of peace there.

They asked the government to implement the resolutions adopted by the parliament to get rid of the US hegemony. Peace could not be resorted in Fata in presence of security forces, they added.

They said that government should rehabilitate internally displaced persons, compensate the affected families and provide medical treatment to tribal people injured in various incidents.

The jirga was organised by Fata chapter of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf at Peshawar Press Club. PTI provincial leader Asad Qaiser, Dost Mohammad Mehsud, Ahmad Zeb Khan, Gul Zafar, Malik Daud Mohmand, Haji Mohammad Iqbal Afridi and tribal elders from different agencies addressed the jirga. The jirga also issued a joint declaration to media. The participants of the jirga vowed that they would raise voice against the influence of the United States in the region.

They said that military operation was not solution to any problem. They said that steps taken by the government against its own people were meant to appease the US.

The prolonged stay of Nato forces in Afghanistan, the declaration said, had led to increase in militancy and displacement of millions of people from settled and tribal areas.

It said that besides military operations, tribal people were facing the black law of Frontier Crime Regulation (FCR) and exploitation by political administration.

Addressing the jirga, the speakers said that tribal people were faced with difficulties despite rendering great sacrifices. “Our rulers act like puppets of western world to get their vested interests,” they alleged.

They said that tribal people would never compromise on solidarity and integrity of the country. They said that they would resist drone attacks and military operations in tribal areas. They demanded end to drone attacks and withdrawal of army from tribal areas.

They asked the government to take firm stance against the CIA-sponsored drone attacks in Fata and distance itself from the war against terrorism.

The speakers demanded a special package for Fata on the pattern of Balochistan package to remove sense of deprivation among tribal people. They also demanded repealing of FCR to ensure provision of basic human rights to tribal people. They expressed grave concern over killing of tribal people, including women and children, in the ongoing military operations and drone attacks in Fata.

They said that the tribal people were compelled to take shelter in other areas owing to the prevailing situation in their respective areas.

They said that drone attacks must be stopped as they were against the sovereignty of the country.

They called upon the government to revise the decision about restoration of Nato supply as it could further disturb situation in Fata.