Frontier Crimes Regulation: Jirga, political agent take up row over arrests, wages
Authorities urged to stop punitive action against tribesmen.
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
A jirga of the Uthmanzai tribe met North Waziristan’s Political Agent Yahya Akhundzada on Saturday to negotiate the release of tribesmen arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and resolve a wage dispute involving both Khasadar and Levies personnel.
The jirga was held at North Waziristan Agency’s headquarters, the circuit house in Miramshah. A government official said the jirga consisted of 200 Uthmanzai tribesmen and was led by former MNA Maulana Naik Zaman, Malik Qadir Khan and Malik Nasrullah.
The tribesmen raised concerns over the crackdown on its people, and the arrest of 42 members of the clan in the wake of assistant political agent Mirali Azmat Jamal’s killing. Seven of the tribesmen were released later, but 35 are still under custody.
The official said that after the death of Azmat Jamal, the government suspended the salaries of nearly 4,000 Khasadar and 900 Levies personnel. It has also closed down government offices under the collective responsibility clause of the FCR.
Criticising the sanctions, the official said the tribe had assured the government of peace in the region.
"During the jirga, tribal elders said the government’s action against the entire community is contrary to tribal customs and traditions," he said, adding that the political agent assured the members that the every decision would be taken in line with tribal norms.
A tribal elder complained that the government’s action is creating problems as Uthmanzai is one of the major tribes and spread over an area of 12 sub-districts in North Waziristan.
A jirga of the Uthmanzai tribe met North Waziristan’s Political Agent Yahya Akhundzada on Saturday to negotiate the release of tribesmen arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and resolve a wage dispute involving both Khasadar and Levies personnel.
The jirga was held at North Waziristan Agency’s headquarters, the circuit house in Miramshah. A government official said the jirga consisted of 200 Uthmanzai tribesmen and was led by former MNA Maulana Naik Zaman, Malik Qadir Khan and Malik Nasrullah.
The tribesmen raised concerns over the crackdown on its people, and the arrest of 42 members of the clan in the wake of assistant political agent Mirali Azmat Jamal’s killing. Seven of the tribesmen were released later, but 35 are still under custody.
The official said that after the death of Azmat Jamal, the government suspended the salaries of nearly 4,000 Khasadar and 900 Levies personnel. It has also closed down government offices under the collective responsibility clause of the FCR.
Criticising the sanctions, the official said the tribe had assured the government of peace in the region.
"During the jirga, tribal elders said the government’s action against the entire community is contrary to tribal customs and traditions," he said, adding that the political agent assured the members that the every decision would be taken in line with tribal norms.
A tribal elder complained that the government’s action is creating problems as Uthmanzai is one of the major tribes and spread over an area of 12 sub-districts in North Waziristan.