Lingering issues: Parties back demands of tribal elders

Halemzai demanded the immediate release of 14 elders earlier arrested under collective responsibility clause of FCR.

SHABQADAR: Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP), local MNAs and senators attended a grand jirga in Ghallani on Tuesday and pledged support to tribal elders of Mohmand Agency. The political parties have decided to press the political administration for the release of detained elders and payment of salaries to personnel of khasadar force besides fulfilling other demands. MNA Bilal Rehman Halemzai demanded the immediate release of 14 elders earlier arrested under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation after security forces recovered a huge cache of arms from Shani Khel area. Former senator Haji Abur Rehman Faqir demanded officials to restore incentives and release salaries of Khasadar personnel. Later, two officials met Mohmand Agency Political Agent Dr Ambar Ali Khan, who decided to convene a jirga of elders in the next two days to look into their concerns.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.