Waziristan Jirga: Members pledge to restore peace

Tribal elders say that the clashes that had occurred few days ago were the result of a misunderstanding.

MIRAMSHAH: Tribal elders and ulema of the Grand Waziristan peace jirga drew strength on Thursday from a peace agreement that they said “has existed in the agency” for the last few years is being followed by all stakeholders in letter and in spirit. These views were expressed by Maulvi Gul Ramzan at a news conference at Miramshah Press Club on Thursday. He said that jirga members are in contact with the agency administration and a dispute that took place between militants and security forces on Sunday will be resolved soon. Malik Mamoor Khan, chief of the Tori Khel tribe, dispelled the notion that there were plans to launch a military operation in North Waziristan. He deplored that such reports were aimed at creating fear among the people. Malik Qadir Khan appealed to the local tribesmen not to heed such reports and show restraint in order to restore durable peace. Responding to a query, the tribal elders said that the clashes that had occurred few days ago were the result of a misunderstanding.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2012.