Growing unrest: Jirga stands united against school attack

GHALLANI:

A grand jirga held in Mohmand Agency vowed to protect government installations and support the security forces for the restoration of peace.

The jirga was held at Sangar Gandhab, five kilometres away from Ghallanai, the headquarters of the agency, at the hujra of Malik Muhammad Ali Halemzai on Sunday.

More than a 100 tribal elders from four major tribes, Wali Baig, Hamza Khel, Kadi Khel and Kamali Halemzai, signed an agreement to support the government’s initiatives for peace.

The jirga also decided that tribesmen will be collectively responsible for maintaining peace and protecting government installations from attacks.

Residents will be responsible for taking action against militants if they sense any danger, even if they are members of a peace committee.

It was also decided that stern action will be taken against the whole village if they did not respond to an attack on time and prevent damage inflicted to schools, health units or any other government building.

Also, if any villager is found to be aiding militants, they will be fined Rs2 million, their house will be burnt or they will be expelled from the village.

Tribal elders said that all villagers will have to pay for damages and reconstruct schools under collective responsibility. The school watchman must open fire when militants attack schools.

“Upon hearing gunshots the whole tribe or villagers of the area will come out in defence for averting destruction or as a precautionary measure,” the jirga said.

The jirga was held in line with the Olasi Taroon (National Peace Treaty) formed to support the government and revive the tribal jirga for the protection of state-run installations, such as educational institutions.

Tribal elder Malik Muhammad Ali Halemzai said that their tribesmen were peaceful. “We will not allow anyone to sabotage our peaceful environment at any cost. Such tribal agreements are meant to protect decades-old tribal customs and traditions,” he told The Express Tribune.

The elder said that they were united against militancy and will continue to collaborate with the government for peace and security.

Last week, a grand jirga of all Mohmand tribes was held. It was decided that the jirga tradition will be revived and all internal disputes will be solved.

Govt school blown up

A government primary school for boys was blown up by unidentified culprits in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency late Saturday night.

The incident took place in Malik Meera Jan Khazina. Following this, the number of destroyed schools in the tehsil has crossed 60.

An official of the Ghallanai Education Department said that the total number of destroyed schools in the agency had reached 109.

In total, around 501 schools have so far been destroyed in the tribal belt.

An official of the political administration official said that international donor agencies were yet to make a decision on the reconstruction of schools. In some areas where schools have not been rebuilt, classes are being conducted in tents.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2012.