KHYBER
The Tribesmen have declined the government direction of forming volunteer armed committees (Lashkar) to deal with the militants’ threat, in a grand Jirga held in Maidan, Tirah Valley on Tuesday.
Keeping in view the deteriorated law and order situation in Tirah, a grand Jirga had been convened on the last day that was attended by a large number of political, religious and tribal elders of the Valley besides central leadership of Seyasi Ittehad(Political Alliance)of Bara.
A declaration unanimously passed by the participants stated that maintaining law and order situation was the responsibility of the State therefore it must fulfill its responsibility and resume peace in the area.
They categorically rejected the shaping of volunteer armed committees to tackle militants in Tirah Valley.
It stated that in fresh wave of militancy, they would not leave their houses as Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) and if they were forced to vacate their residencies due to military operation than they would not take refuge in down towns but would move to Islamabad and would initiate protest in the capital of the country.
To ensure representation of all Afridi tribes and its sub-tribes, in the grand Jirga, four to five representatives each council was formed that would initiate dialogue with the security forces and militant groups to restore peace in Tirah Valley.
The declaration was widely approved and the tribesmen of Tirah demanded of the government to ensure their basic rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the country.
It is to be stated here that last week the President of Tirah Tajer Union Haji Sher Muhammad Afridi and his cousin had been abducted and then murdered brutally that frightened the locals and they decided to rise against the insurgency before it turned into war between the security force and the militants.
