Local support: Orakzai tribesmen welcome truce

HANGU:

Members of eight tribes from Upper Orakzai Agency held a Grand Jirga on Monday to welcome the announcement of a ceasefire from the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan. They demanded the TTP should also include tribal elders in its negotiation committee.

The jirga, held in Baber Mela, was led by tribal elder Malik Hafiz Habib Noor, Malik Jan and Malik Muhammad Rahman. Addressing the tribesmen, Noor welcomed the development and said both government and the militants should include tribal elders in their committees.

Rahman added most people living as IDPs in Hangu should not be disturbed by being asked to register themselves at police stations as they have already suffered enough.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2014.