A file photo of a jirga. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The top government administrator in North Waziristan Agency has told a tribal Jirga that the situation could not normalise in the region unless local tribes expelled militants from their areas.
The Jirga comprising 65 elders from Uthmanzai Wazir and Dawar tribes met with Siraj Ahmad Khan, the political agent of North Waziristan, at the Circuit House in the agency headquarters of Miramshah late Sunday.
Jirga members complained about the persistent curfew and recurring search operations by the security forces. The political agent, however, defended the extraordinary measures which, he said, were aimed at the militants who were targeting the security forces with roadside bombs. He added that the security forces have suffered several casualties in such attacks.
The political agent called upon the local tribes to expel militants from their areas. “If the tribesmen fail to do that, we’ll take action against them under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier crimes Regulation (FCR).”
Earlier, Haji Sher Muhammad – the successor of the legendary Faqir of Ipi and an elder of the Uthmanzai tribe – said that the Waziristan tribesmen were loyal to Pakistan, yet they were being targeted. He was referring to the recent air raids on militant hideouts in different parts of the agency which, according to local tribes, also killed innocent women, children and elderly people.
He said the local tribes have no option but to migrate to the neighbouring Afghanistan due to the ongoing security operations in Mirali and Miramshah tehsils of the agency.
He said that they wanted to solve the issue through dialogue and restore peace in the region. However, if the situation didn’t normalise and their demands went unheeded, they would meet the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor and other high officials. “No one in the region wants war,” he reiterated. After the jirga, Haji Sher told journalists that the political agent has agreed to arrange a meeting between the tribal elders and the governor.
On Monday morning, the political administration imposed a curfew in the agency and tribesmen were told to stay indoors due to the movement of security forces in the area.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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@American:
Have you an idea why natives in India were given the name 'Hindu' by the Persians? They are unique and usualy keep to themselves!
Rex Minor
@Hamood: It doesn't matter who were for what...what matters is what happened ... India got rid of an unruly, ignorant, bigoted, militant bunch of people, and fortified its north western border.. Now every Indian -- Hindu or Muslim, Christian or Buddhist is "for" that separation...you can't find 100 people in India that want a re-unification with Pakistan.
@American, You need to read some history books buddy. But then most Americans are not known for their command of history. India (Hindus) was AGAINST this separation in 1947. Muslims were FOR this separation.
ET mod. the guy deserves a response
@Bakhtiyar Khan: Then pray, tell us if there has been any referendum in the tribal territory approving the creation of Pakistan in 1947 or after 1947? I do not find any record for this event, besides is your tribe receiving regular payments from the Pakistan Government or are you now a resident of KPK? If this is all so brotherly and friendly, then what is all this fuss about military carnage in the entire Pashtun land from Dir and Bajur down to waziristan? Is some body getting married or celebrating the Americans withdrawl?
Rex Minor
@Naseer Ahmad: The FCR docuent is not worth the paper it is written on and it is a guide for the Pakistanis not for the tribesmen! The position of the Governor is symbolic to keep Pakistan central Government authority ofer the Provincial Government and the position of the poiticalagent is a relic of the past His function is what I wroe and his influenec is limited to the will and pleasure of the Tribal Chiefs. Those tribesmen who voluntarily live in the cities nearing to their territory are ofcourse subject to the laws of settled areas of Pakistan, and also become the recipeant of the special benefits as well. But let not any one dare enter into their territory without approval and escort of the individual tribe.
Rex Minor
@Ali S: Excellent Idea. "..separating the lawless NW area...and fortifying our northwestern border". Exactly what India did in 1947...
@Rex Minor: Stop inventing fake stories. I am from this region, and I support Pakistan 100%. Most of these terrorists are coming from Afghanistan and threatening Pukhtoons on this side of the border. Maybe you should ask the people who live in this region of Pakistan before inventing your own stories. Shame on you.
@Rex Minor Read the document of FCR before making a comment on the powers pf Political Agent.
Except there's one problem: virtually every adult male in Waziristan (and most of FATA) is a 'militant' by most definitions of the word - the only thing that differs is their affiliation or reasoning (if any).
We'd be better off separating that lawless wasteland from Pakistan (since the writ of govt doesn't exist there anyway) and fortifying our northwestern border with Afghanistan - it would rid us of most of our security problems, not to mention polio and smuggling.
What an order, lambs have been asked to push out the wolves !!!
The reporter should be fired for inaccurate reporting. The political agent is not the Top administrator but the Agent whose function is limited to make tributes paments and to receive tribal demands and convey the concerns of the State of Pakistan.
Rex Minor
Kick these TTP savages out.